32 BIEDS OF CALIFOENIA AFFECTING FRUIT INDUSTRY. 



FOOD OF YOUXG. 



The stomachs of two broods of nestlings of 4 each are inchided in 

 the foregoing. The contents do not differ from those of adults ex- 

 cept that they include a small percentage of gravel. Some of them 

 contained also fragments of eggshell; one had a piece of mother-of- 

 pearl (nacre), and one a small splinter of bone. It is curious that 

 these indigestible substances should be so often fed to nestlings when 

 the j)arent birds seldom take them. 



VIOLET-GREEX SWALLOAV. 

 (Tachyci)ictu thuUissiiiu lepida.) 



The violet-green swallow does not occur east of the Great Plains. 

 Its general habits appear to be almost identical with those of its east- 

 ern relative, the white-bellied swallow. 



The natural nesting site of both species was a hollow in a tree, and 

 the western bird still adheres to the original habit and nests in the 

 hollows of oaks and other trees, but the white-belly has to a great ex- 

 tent followed the example of so many of its relatives, and has taken 

 to holes in buildings or to boxes put up for avian use. 



In its food habits the violet -green exhibits no marked peculiarities; 

 in fact it may be said that the food of the different species of swal- 

 lows differs in degree rather than in kind. Stomachs of the violet- 

 green have been collected in every month, except June, from ]March to 

 September, inclusive, but only 7 were taken earlier than July. In 

 that month, however, and the two following months 67 were obtained, 

 a sufficient number to give a fair idea of the food at this season. 



Insect food. — Insects constituted practically the entire contents of 

 these stomachs. Xo spiders were found, and the only vegetable mat- 

 ter was a single seed, no doubt accidental. 



As with the barn swallow, the largest item is Hemiptera, or bugs. 

 These are represented by 10 different families, of which the leaf- 

 hoppers (Jassida^) were the most numerous, and the leaf-bugs (Cap- 

 sidse) next. Altogether they amount to 30 percent of the food. 



Diptera stand next in importance, an^l in this respect also the violet- 

 green resembles the barn swallow. They constitute nearly 29 percent 

 of the food. Neither Diptera nor Hemiptera, however, are eaten 

 as freeh^ bj^ the violet-green as by the barn swallow, and the defi- 

 ciency is made up by Hymenoptera. 



Hymenoptera amount to 23 percent of the food, and in the 

 month of July were mostly made up of ants. Six stomachs taken 

 on the same day and in the same locality were entirely filled with 

 these insects. One taken at the same place on the following day 

 was half filled with them, and this, with the exception of 1 percent 



