Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, August 10, 1907, Page 8

LONG LIST OF BIRDS THAT EAT SCALE INSECTS Valuable Service Rendered in Holding Pest in Check—By W. L. McAtee, Ass’t. Biological Survey. The importance of birds to the farm- er in his warfare against insects is everywhere recognized; indeed, it may be said that successful agriculture would be well-nigh impossible with- out their aid. One important role, however, is filled by birds, in which the value of their services has not been appreciated, chiefly, no doubt, be- cause the facts are not generally known. This is as destroyers of scale insects. Very little has been pub- lished on the subject, although at least six foreign species and about the same number of native ones have been re- ported as feeding upon scales. These facts have been either overlooked or little weight has been attached to them. Indeed, only recently currency tas been given to a statement that fig. 1—Black Olive Scale (Saissetia | oleae). From Koebele, Bureau of Entomology, after Comstock.) birds never feed upon scales. Not ; this statement not true, but in- ations by the biological survey conclusively that scales are prove eaten by many species of birds and that with some species they are a fa- worite food. Among the most interesting pub- ed scale (Eulecanium pruinosum), which attacks fruit trees such as apri- cot, peach, prune and cherry, and is already important economically, with possibilities of becoming a serious pest if unchecked. It relishes also the apri- cot scale (Eulecanium armeniacum), which is an enemy of apricot, prune, pear and other trees. In the southeastern United States occurs an allied genus of scale insects, Toumeyella. The cardinal feeds upon at least one species of this group. Distributed chiefly along the Pacific coast is a scale which is closely re- lated to those of the above-mentioned genera and is preyed upon by many birds. This is the black olive scale (Saissetia olew, fig. 1). Another scale insect which is eaten by several birds, but which differs from the last-mentioned species in that it confines itself to a single host plant, is the oak scale (Kermes). Oak scales are not conspicuously injurious, but this fact does not detract from the value of the birds which feed upon them, since we can be assured they do not neglect other kinds which are destructive. In fact, one of the oak- scale feeders, the rose-breasted gros- beak, is already known to feed upon other and harmful scales. The following species of birds have been found to devour the oak scale: Rose-breasted grosbeak, red-eyed vireo, white-eyed vireo, worm-eating warbler, magnolia warbler, blackpoll warbler, Canadian warbler. The oaks, infested as they are by the comparatively innocuous Kermes, are fortunate in comparison to the maples, which are attacked by Pul- vinaria. The cottony maple scale (Pulvinaria innumerabilis) is a special pest of the tree from which it derives its common name, but it is found upon scores of others. Among scale insects eaten by birds mology.) lished observations on this point are those of R. Newstead, Chester, Eng- land. He mentions four seale insects which were preyed upon by five spe- cies of birds, and it is to be noted that two of the scales and two of the birds are identical with species occurring in the United States. The house spar- row was found apparently feeding upon the hawthorn scale (Eulecanium genevense), which occurs only in Eu- rope. Another scale insect, neverthe- less, and an injurious one, the oyster- shell bark-louse (Mytilaspis pomo- rum), which was eaten by the birds Mr. Newstead studied, is a common pest in the United States. It was fed upon by the tree-creeper, a near rela- tive of our brown creeper. Recent investigations show that a very much larger number of our North American birds prey upon scales than s expected, and some eat them to a considerable extent. Their influence upon the number of these pests, while doub: s less than that of the preda- insects, is of far more impor- ethan has yet been recognized. the scales they devour are most notorious pests. least two native birds eat the cies collected by the writer in 2 had eaten 36 of these scales, osing 95 per cent. of the stomach contents. Two other grosbeaks from Illinois did still better. One consumed about 45 plum scales, which made up 95 per cent. of its food, while the other aten nothing but plum scales, of which its stomach contained more than 100. The cardinal or redbird also feeds upon the plum scale, one taken in Texas in April having con- sumed a number sufficient to form 84 per cent. of its stomach contents. These two species of birds devour other scale insects also, some of which are closely related to the plum scale. The rose-breasted grosbeak has been found to eat the hickory scale (Eule- canium carye) and the tulip scale (Eulecanium tulipiferee). The latter is very destructive to shade trees in some parts of the eastern United States. While both the rose-breasted and the cardinal grosbeak eat scales had of the genus Eulecanium in large num- | bers, we have been unable to identify specifically any others, with the prob- able exception of the locust scale, Eulecanium robinarium (Douglas), from the stomach of a cardinal collect- ed in Texas. Another grosbeak, the black-headed (Zamelodia melanoce- phala),-at home in the western United States, preys upon scales of the.same .genus. It is known to select the frost- —-+ scale, which is destructive to and plum trees. One of them beautiful rose-breasted grosbeak slodia ludoviciana). A female of | other than those above mentioned is @ very abundant and widespread spe- cies, the oyster-shell bark-louse (Myti- laspis pomorum, fig. 3), which is some times quite injurious. Indeed, it is said that in some sections the oyster- shell bark-louse is, with the exception g } 3 Fig. 3.—Oyster-shell Bark-louse (Myti- laspis pomorum). (From Howard, Bureau of Entomology.) of the San Jose scale, the most de structive scale insect. Following is a list of birds ascer- tained to feed upon scale insects none of which were specifically identified: Hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosus). Northern downy woodpecker (Dryobates ianus). aded woodpecker (Dryobates ic three-toed woodpecker (Picodes ti: articus). Yellow-bellied woodpecker (Sphyrapicus varius). Red-headed erythrocephalus). woodpecker (Melanerpes Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata). Orchard oriole (icterus spurius). Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula). Cedar waxwing (Ampelis cedrorum). pone warbler (Dendroica town- sendi). Tufted titmouse (Baeotophus bicolor). She py titmouse (Baeolophus wollwe- peri). Carolina chickadee (Parus carolinensis), Sapte kinglet (Regulus calen- ula). Varied thrush (Ixoreus nacvius). All told, 57 species of birds have been found to eat scale insects. It is interesting to note that this number comprises representatives of 12 fam- ilies, differing widely not only in struc- ture but in habits. They are distrib- uted as follows: Nine woodpeckers, 2 jays, 3 orioles, 8 sparrows, 1 wax- wing; 6 vireos, 11 warblers, 2 wrens, 1 tree creeper, 2 nuthatches and 8 tits of the titmouse family, 1 kinglet and 1 gnatcatcher of the oid world warbler family, and the varied thrush and the bluebird. When to Cut Alfalfa. — Alfalfa should be cut when coming into bloom, and not too close to the ground. Hay caps to cover alfalfa and protect it from dew, rain and sun- shine are desirable. One-half the value of alfalfa hay may be lost if it is not properly protected.—Prof. R, A, Moore. ‘ Economy, Publicity and the Paramount Interest of Policyheiders. President Kingsley, of the New York Life Insurance Company, says, in an address to the policyholders, that his plan of administration in- volves these points: “First: Strict economy; second, the widest, fairest and fullest public- ity; third, the continuance of the New York Life as a world-wide institution; fourth, such an amount of new busi- ness under the law as we can secure while practicing intelligent economy, and enforcing the idea that the inter- est of the policy-holder is paramount.” Allowances Necessary. “Why does marriage seem to dispel so much of the glamor of affection?” asked the sentimental young woman. “Well,” answered, Miss Cayenne, “perhaps a woman doesn’t make suf- ficient allowance. It must be very hard for a man to seem as graceful and heroic when advocating househoid economics as when he is offering to lay the world at your feet.”—Washing- ton Star. FEARFUL BURNING SORES. Boy in Misery 12 Years—Eczema in Rough Scales, Itching and In- flamed—Cured by Cuticura. “Cuticura has put a stop to twelve years of misery I passed with my son. As an infant I noticed on his body a red spot and treated same with differ- ent remedies for about five years, but when the spot began to get larger I put him under the care of doctors. Under their treatment the disease spread to four different parts of his body. During the day it would get rough and form like scales. At night it would be cracked, inflamed and bad- ly swollen, with terrible burning and itching. One doctor told me that my son’s eczema was incurable, and gave it up. I decided to give Cuticura a trial. When I had used the first box of Cuti- cura Ointment there was a great im- provement, and by the time I had used the second set of Cuticura Remedies my child was cured. He is now twelve years old, and his skin is as fine and smooth as silk. Michael Steinman, 7 Sumner Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y., April 16, 1905.” SOAKED IN COFFEE Until Too Stiff to Bend Over. “When I drank coffee I often had sick headaches, nervousness and bil- iousness much of the time, but when I went to visit a friend I got in the habit of drinking Postum. “TI gave up coffee entirely and the re- sult has been that I have been entire- ly relieved of all my stomach and ner- yous trouble. “My mother was just the same way. We all drink Postum now, and with- out coffee in the house for 2 years, we are all well. “A neighbor of mine, a great coffee drinker, was troubled with pains in her side for years and was an invalid. She was not able to do her work and could not even mend clothes or do any- thing at all where she would have to bend forward. If she tried to do a little hard work she would get such pains that she would have to lie down for the rest of the day. i “At last I persuaded her to stop drinking coffee and try Postum Food Coffee and she did so and has used Postum ever since; the result has been that she can now do her work, can sit for a whole day and mend and can sew on the machine and she never feels the least bit of pain in her side, in fact, she has got well and it shows coffee was the cause of the whole trou- ble. ’ “I could also tell you about several other neighbors who have been cured by quitting coffee and using Postum in its place.” “There’s-a Reason.” Look in pkg. for the famous little book, “The Road to Wellville.” WHERE WAS THE SLEEK CAT? Pound of Meat Was There, but the Kitten Was Missing. A certain family living in one of the suburbs of New York owned a kitten of which they were very fond. When they went away for the summer it was decided after various consultations to leave the kitten with the butcher, on condition that he should treat it with the greatest kindness and give it about a pound of meat a week, besides its daily allotment of cream. Some weeks after the family had closed the house for the summer the nominal head of the family visited the suburb to attend to some business matters and decided that he might as well drop in at the butcher’s to see how the kitten was getting along. He found the kitten curled up in the corner asleep’and apparently at peace with the world, but, far from being sleek and well fed in appear- ance, it was so thin that he felt con- strained to call the attention of the butcher to the fact. “Do you mean to say you have fed that cat a pound of meat, during the last week?” he asked. “I certainly have,” responded the butcher. “Put him on the scales and see how much he weighs.” The butther did as requested and gently deposited the kitten in the bal- ance. The pointer indicated exactly one pound. “Well, grunted the owner of the animal, “there’s the pound of meat all right, but where’s the cat?” ~ THE NEW YORK LIFE’S PROGRAM. | { OUTDOOR LIFE OF CHILDREN OF ORIENT Dwellers in Occident Have Something to Learn From People of Far East. > While it took a Western civilization | to teach man the way to freedom and to strike the shackles from woman- hood, the Orient anticipated the re- mainder of the world by centuries in appreciating the value of a life in the open for children. The youngster of China, Japan, India, Egypt, the Philippines never had to be freed. He has ever been so. A pessimist might say that the fathers and mothers of the Far East are too lazy to give that care to their offspring that is so typical of parents in the New World. This, they argue, accounts for the manner in which the dark-hued youngster has been allowed to spend his young life in the open air, adding sunburn to his already copper or black cuticle and never knowing’ anything but the health-giv- ing joy of the fresh air and the open. Perhaps this is true, but travelers will tell you that the Oriental father and mother’ are not lacking in affec- tien, particularly when the offspring is a boy. Among the wealthy, where every wish of the young is quickly responded to, the same open life is permitted the children, nay, is thought to be essential to their healthy future. There is none of the coddling, none of the wrapping in cotton that seems to be spreading in the United States. The wise Chinese or Japanese father and mother reason that above all things their offspring should be kept close to nature. This idea even affects the nobility, and where a man born to the purple ; fears to let his child run wild with other yourigsters, for fear kidnappers might steal him for ransom, he makes the same outdoor life possible with safety by building a large garden. Here the boy roams his younger days, unbothered by books or tutors, free till such time as the father decides that he is old enough to have a brain ready for knowledge and constitution to bear him through the strain of hard application. This latter case has related particu- | larly to the Japs, who more than any other Oriental nation appreciate the value of education, and count no ex- treme of money wasted that goes to prepare a boy or gir) for the future. Little Japs play as one would ex- pect the children of a somewhat taci- turn people to play. They enjoy them- selves hugely, but except for wide grins, which disclose fine teeth, there is little evidence of the good time they are getting from striving to keep out of the way of the chaser whose eyes are veiled. Motherhood is a strong instinct with the Japanese girl, just as the warlike spirit seems to dominate the boy. ‘ The real little mother in her high- est estate can be found in Tokio, Chefu, Nagassaki and a hundred oth- er places. It is no uncommon sight for a girl of ten to have in charge half a dozen brothers and sisters, arranged in steps and going all the way down to one and two years. Patience and gentleness to an as- tonishing degree mark.the care these little mothers lavish on their young charges. Playtime to a Japanese girl often means little more than years spent in taking care of the future heads of families. Chinese children with their yellow faces and fat bodies make you think irresistibly of rolls of butter bound about with bright hued wrappers. The Chinese baby is much more demonstrative than his Jap brother or sister. He laughs loudly, plays boisterously and js full of charm and roguery. While the adult Chinaman stands in great awe of his all-powerful God, of whom the greatest of prophets is the all-knowing Confuscius, the chil- dren of the nation are not at an early age compelled to master all the lore of religion. This instruction is left till a time when it is felt the growing mind can grasp the great truths. Prior to that time the child’s chance of future happiness depends largely on the conduct of the parents, the father and mother being expected to so live that the gods cannot take of- the freedom allowed the brown youngsters who came to United States control after the Spanish-American war. The Filipino child runs as wild as a native vine. No one says him nay. He can go and come at will, and only at nightfall does the mother or father round up the brood to put them to sleep. Children of the Citadelle district in Cairo, Egypt, present another interest- ing example of the juvenile out-door life of the East. They dress little or not at all, but they are a happy and robust bunch, who seem to thrive on dirt, exposure and a none too plenti- ful supply of nourishment. The man who has studied physical culture, and who knows all the argu- ments in favor of an outdoor life, will naturally wonder why these children, who never know anything else, do not grow into more robust men and wom- en. In Japan they do develop fine healthy physiques. They are diminu- tive, but they have limitless endur- ance and can live on only a fraction of what would be required to keap UNCLE SAM’S LITTLE WARDS. Diminutive maidens of the tropics, Philippine islands. fense against them or their offspring. | life in an American, German or Eng- Confuscius taught charity and kindness to children as prime tenets of his doctrine, therefore none except of children that deep reverence which only comes with understanding of vital truths. It is no uncommon sight to see a group of almond-eyed youngsters playing church, imitating the Celestial teachers of the faith, and running laughingly all over the idol that their elders would not ap- proach except in humblest awe. In all Uncle Sam’s domain there is no place where children have their own way more thoroughly than in the Philippines. It has been thought that Young America in the cities of tke United States enjoys a good deal of license, but its condition shrinks al- most into bondage as compared with lishman. In China they would per- haps grow to equally able mental and physical maturity but for the curse of opium which saps the nation. The stock of the Philippines has not yet been long enough under test to permit a fair estimate, but the probabilities are that the children raised in the open will eventually make good, healthy Americans, with a fair sprink- ling of brains. Not Popular. Miss Skreecher—What sort of songs do you like best, Mr. Suphrer? Mr. Suphrer—The songs of the sev- enteenth century. Miss Skreecher—How odd! Why do you prefer them? Mr. Suphrer—Because nobody ever em nowadays. YOUTHFUL MOTHERS, JAPAN. Markings of the Palate. Dr. Paul Prager, an army surgeon in Vienna, recommends that prisoners | should be identified by the shape of their palates. He says that the sys- tem would be much more exact than that of finger prints. He has taken thousands ,of molds of the interior of the human mouth, but has so far failed to find two which even slightly resem- ple each other. He says that though the teeth change with time, the mark- ings of the palate remain unchanged through life. To Observe Sea Gardens. A glass tower resting on the bot- tom of the ocean thirty feet below the surface and extending up into the | open air is to be built at Long Beach, Cal. most entirely of heavy plate glass with Wants Snakes Protected. At a meeting of the Melon Growers’ ; Association it was decided to adopt | resolutions for the preservation of all The shaft will be constructed al- | Snakes of the chicken and spreadhead variety in the melon belt, and the a glass room twelve feet square at the | sense of the meeting was that the in- bottom reached by an elevator. This | crease of the reptiles should be wel- will give visitors an opportunity to ob- | comed. serve the wonderful sea gardéns. Chasing dirty linen up and down a washboard is hard on wedding rings. The chicken and the spreadhead snakes are the natural enemies of the field mice, and destroy scores of them each day. 7