8 BIRDS THAT EAT THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



work was taken up by the writer early in July and continued until 

 October 20. Stomaclis of 62 species of birds were collected and 

 examined, of which 12 species and 108 individuals were found to 

 have eaten boll weevils. "- Detailed results of the summer observa- 

 tions will be given later. 



COMPARISON OF SUMMER AND WINTER CONDITIONS. 



During the growing season of cotton the adult weevils are concealed 

 the greater part of the time on the buds, or 'squares, ' where the enfold- 

 ing bracts afford almost complete protection from most of their 

 enemies; this fact largely explains why comparatively few weevils 

 are eaten by birds during the summer months. The amount of time 

 they spend on the wing and the distance they fly from place to place 

 are not well known, but it is only during the period of maximum 

 infestation that any considerable proportion of the insects can be 

 found in exposed situations. After the first hard frost, weevils begin 

 to leave the cotton plants and seek sheltered places in which to hiber- 

 nate. During this period their numbers are materially reduced, but 

 in favored seasons many weevils successfully pass the winter in their 

 retreats. Rubbish piles about the borders of fields apparently furnish 

 the most desirable hibernating quarters, and in such situations the 

 weevils are exposed more or less to the attacks of ground-feeding 

 birds. They are said to make use also of the hiding places afforded 

 by the cotton and corn stalks which have been left standing. 



Investigations thus far made show that while fewer weevils are 

 destroyed by birds in winter than in summer, the number of species 

 of birds that feed upon them in winter is somewhat greater. The 

 birds which eat boll weevils in winter and spring and up to the time 

 of the breeding season of the insects are more important economically 

 than those which eat them in summer, for the reason that during the 

 season of nonactivity of the weevils a relatively long period must 

 elapse before they can make good the losses in their numbers, while 

 during the breeding season weevils multiply with astonishing rapidity. 



SUMMARY OF RESULTS. 



As a result of the investigation of the relations of birds to boll 

 weevils, details of which are given on succeeding pages, 28 species 

 have been ascertained to feed on the weevil, as follows: 



Killdeer. Least flycatcher. 



Quail. Cowbird. 



Nighthawk. Red-winged blackbird. 



Scissor-tailed flycatcher. Meadow lark. 



Phcebe. ^ Western meadow lark. 



' a Examination of the stomachs was conducted in the laboratory by Prof. F. E. L. Beal 

 andW. L. McAtee. 



