NIGHTHAWK AND QUAIL. 13 



migration, fly but little. Two species have been found to capture the 

 weevils in summer and one species in winter. 



The least flycatcher does not breed in the State, but is present in 

 small numbers during the migration in August and wSeptember, and 

 probably also in spring. In spite of its small size and aerial feeding 

 habits the number of weevils eaten by this bird amounts to over 

 100 per cent of the number of birds examined, or an average of more 

 than two weevils to each bird eating them. 



The scissor-t ailed flycatcher, although an abundant species, appar- 

 ently destroys very few boll weevils. Only 4 of the 64 birds examined 

 had eaten weevils, the total number of weevils eaten being 6. 



The phoebe is the only flycatcher which passes the winter months in 

 Texas. Thirteen stomachs taken in November and December have 

 been examined, three of which contained one boll weevil each. This 

 bird does not occur in Texas during summer. 



NIGHTHAWK. 



{Chordeiles virginianus henry i.) 



The number of stomachs of this bird examined is too small to 

 definitely settle its status as a boll weevil destroyer, but the fact that 

 two of the four birds examined had eaten weevils, one having taken 

 six weevils at a meal, indicates that the species is probably, at least 

 at certain seasons, one of the most important enemies of the pest. 

 This evidence should serve as an effective argument in favor of the 

 preservation of the nighthawk. 



These birds, commonly known as 'bull bats,' are often killed for 

 food, particularly in Louisiana, Florida, and other Southern States, 

 and they frequently serve also as targets for sportsmen who wish to 

 try their skill as wing shots. In view of their importance as insect 

 destroyers, nighthawks should at all times be rigidly protected. 



QUAIL, OR BOBWHITE. 



{Colinus virginianus texanus.) 



Much has been written concerning the quail as a destroyer of boll 

 weevils, and many persons believe that it consumes them in large 

 numbers. Stomach examinations, however, fail to substantiate this 

 theory, for among 144 stomachs examined only one contained a boll 

 weevil. The bird that ate this one was killed at Seguin in November 

 by Vernon Bailey. There is still one season of the year during which 

 the quail has been imperfectly studied, namely, the period from 

 January to June, inclusiive, and it is possible that investigation during 

 those months may result in a different showing for the l^ird. The 

 ground-feeding habits of quail make it practically certain that few if 

 - any boll weevils are taken by them in summer. 



