300 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



that he has none to suggest, except in the case of crows and 

 blackbirds that pull up sprouting corn. This can be prevented 

 by thoroughly tarring the seed, which, if properly done, neither 

 injures its vitality nor prevents the use of machinery in planting. 

 There is, however, some hope for the future, though perhaps a 

 distant one. While the advance of civilization has thus far not 

 affected these birds or their haunts, the time must surely come 

 when it will. Increased density of population will broaden the 

 area of cultivation, and this in time must lead to the draining of 

 the smaller marshes and ponds, thus turning over to agriculture 

 much land that has heretofore been worse than waste, since it 

 has served as a breeding ground for the birds that have destroyed 

 the crops. With the breeding places more restricted, and an 

 environment otherwise changed by increased population, the 

 number of birds must surely decrease, and in time the proper 

 equilibrium will be restored. In the meantime, it behooves the 

 farmer to apply such remedies as the exigencies of the case sug- 

 gest; and, where these gregarious species are overabundant, it 

 might be well to exempt them from the general protective laws, 

 in order that each landholder may be free to protect himself as 

 best he can." 



The Bobolink {Dolichonyx orycivorus) must be studied from 

 two standpoints to obtain a just view of its economic position. 

 With us in the North it is not only the most joyous ornament of 

 our fields, but of definite value to agriculture. During the time 

 it is with us Professor Beal has determined, from the examina- 

 tion of 231 stomachs, that 57.1 per cent of its food consists of 

 animal material, and 42.9 per cent vegetable. " Of the insect 

 food, as determined by the examination, beetles constitute nearly 

 19 per cent. Predaceous species (Carabidas), w^hich are, broadly 

 considered, useful insects, are represented only by a trace; snout- 

 beetles, or weevils (Rhynchophora), amount to 8.9 per cent, and 

 in May to 20.8 per cent; and the other beetles, of various 

 families, and all of a more or less harmful character, make up 

 the rest of the coleopterous food. Hymenoptera, represented by 

 ants and some wasps, and by many parasitic species, form 

 7.6 per cent of the food, and were found mostly in May and 

 July stomachs. The Bobolink eats more of these parasitic 

 Hymenoptera than any other bird whose food habits have thus 



