14 BIRDS THAT EAT THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



KILLDEER. 



{Oxyechus vociferus.) 



One killdeer taken in February was found to have eaten three boll 

 weevils. Further observations at the same season may not improb- 

 abl}^ produce additional evidence of this bird's value as a weevil 

 destroyer. The killdeer frequents plowed fields, often in large num- 

 bers, and the destruction of weevils at the period of spring plowing 

 is a highh^ important service. The present game law of Texas affords 

 no protection to this bird, a defect which should be remedied by 

 legislation. Meanwhile an enlightened public opinion should serve 

 to prevent its destruction for any purpose. 



MOCKINGBIRD. 



{Mimus polyglottos.) 



In view of the abundance of the mockingbird in and about the 

 cotton fields, both in winter and summer, a study of its food habits 

 with relation to the boll weevil is especially important. Sufficient 

 data were obtained in the summer of 1905 to demonstrate that this 

 bird feeds only sparingh" upon the weevils at that season. Of the 

 stomachs examined, only four, or about 5 per cent of the total number, 

 contained boll weevils. Specimens taken in winter are too few to 

 furnish conclusive evidence as to the mockingbird's value at that 

 season. Only 11 winter specimens have been examined, and of these 

 2 contained 1 boil weevil each. 



OTHER SPECIES. 



There remain to be mentioned five species of birds, belonging to 

 as many different families, which have been found to eat the boll 

 weevil. They are the white-rumped shrike, the American pipit or 

 titlark, the brown thrasher, the Carolina wren, and the black-crested 

 titmouse. The most usefid of these seem to be the titlark and the 

 Carolina wren. The importance of both has been emphasized by 

 Mr. Bailey in a previous bulletin, and no additional evidence has 

 since been obtained. The titlark {Anthus pensilvanicus) is an abun- 

 dant winter resident, and of the eight specimens collected three had 

 eaten boll weevils. 



The Carolina wren {TJiryothorus ludovicianus) is common in winter, 

 but rather rare in summer. Of the seven birds killed in winter five 

 had eaten boll weevils. 



The white-rumped shrike, or ' loggerhead ' {Lanius ludovicianus excu- 

 hitorides), was ascertained by assistants of the Bureau of Entomology 

 to feed on boll weevils, two birds taken in December having captured 

 one and four weevils, respectively. Examination of additional mate- 



