24 RELATION OF BIRDS TO COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



seen in the timber and around the dooryards in toAvn. Cliff swal- 

 lows and bank swallows were quite numerous, and about 30 rough- 

 winged swallows were seen. Twenty-tAvo birds were collected, but 

 only 3 had taken boll weevils. One cliff swallow had eaten G, another 

 20 13011 weevils, these being the only birds of the species taken. Two 

 bank swallows were collected, 1 of Avhich had eaten 2 boll weevils, 



Victoria, Tex., Septemher 10-15, 1906. — The cotton fields in the 

 river bottom here are extensive. Cotton worms were abundant and 

 quite generally distributed; some of the fields had been entirely 

 stripped of leaves and buds by them, while other fields were in proc- 

 ess of denudation. Boll weevils also were abundant, but on account 

 of the ravages of the cotton worms were concentrated on the green 

 cotton, and doubtless large numbers were flying about from field to 

 field in search of food. September 10, 25 plants were examined and 

 iO weevils found on them; September 14, 15 plants were examined 

 and 89 Aveevils found — an average on both days of about 3 to the 

 plant. This count was made, of course, in fields Avhere there Avere 

 still a good many squares. 



Birds were abundant here, and 150 specimens of 22 species were 

 collected ; 63 individuals of 12 species Avere found to have eaten boll 

 Aveevils. Four of the 7 species of flycatchers present here had eaten 

 weevils — the kingbird, olive-sided flycatcher, least flycatcher, and 

 alder flycatcher. The kingbird was (juite numerous, and of the 12 

 specimens taken 6 had eaten a total of 8 weevils. Two olive-sided 

 flycatchers were taken, one of which had eaten 2 boll weevils. The 

 smaller flycatchers Avere quite numerous, and 3 species AA'ere taken; 

 of the 2 alder flycatchers taken 1 had eaten 2 Aveevils, and of the 

 4 least flycatchers 2 had eaten 5 Aveevils apiece. Both the orchard 

 oriole and the Baltimore oriole AAere present in some numbers, but 

 they seemed to feed on the Aveevil less frequently than during last 

 summer (1905). Fourteen orchard orioles were collected, and of 

 these only 3 had eaten Aveevils— 1 taking 2, another 1. and another 

 13 Aveeviis. Of 13 Baltimore orioles taken, only 1 had eaten the 

 Aveevil — this one taking 9 Aveevils. It seems probable that the abun- 

 dance of cotton Avorms induced the orioles to neglect the boll Aveevils. 



SwalloAvs Avere the most abundant birds here during the Avriter's 

 stay, and all of the 4 species taken proved to be feeding on boll 

 Aveevils. The cliff swallow Avas the most abundant species, and 

 several thousand passed oA'er each day in their leisurely southAvard 

 migration. Frequently 25 to 50 Avere in sight at once over the cotton 

 fields, and on some days a continuous stream of sAvalloAvs Avas passing 

 for several hours at a time. They flcAV usually at a height of 20 to 

 30 feet above the ground, occasionally, hoAvever, rising to a consider- 

 ably greater height. Thirty-three specimens were collected, and all 

 but 1 of them had eaten boll Aveevils. The total number of Aveevils 



