406 BULLETIN 195, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The late-summer molt of the thrasher is perhaps more noticeable 

 than that of any other California land bird. In this it contrasts 

 strongly with the mockingbird, which is seldom seen in a disheveled 

 state. During this period following the end of the nesting season, 

 individuals can always be seen in smooth, neat plumage, and others 

 in a very ragged condition. The latter birds show no inclination to 

 seek seclusion, but pursue their usual activities.] 



Food. — In an examination of 82 stomachs of this species, Prof. F. 

 E. L. Beal (1907) found vegetable food to exceed animal in the ratio 

 of 59 to 41. Carabidae constituted 3.8 percent, other beetles 6 percent, 

 the most numerous being darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) and May 

 beetles (Scarabaeidae). "But very few weevils or other species that 

 live on trees or foliage were found. Of all the insects, Hymenoptera are 

 the most abundant, as they are also the most constant element of the 

 thrasher's food. About half of these are ants, the rest wasps and 

 bees. * * * Together they make up something more than 12 per- 

 cent of the food of the year. Two specimens of worker honey-bees 

 (Apis mellifera) were found in one stomach." Caterpillars, cocoons, 

 and moths amounted to 8 percent, mostly eaten during winter, prob- 

 ably while hibernating ; spiders and myriapods formed 6 percent. 



Of the vegetable food. Prof. Beal found 18 percent represented by 

 fruit, "probably not of much value." Seeds of blackberries or rasp- 

 berries, elderberry, cascara, and manzanita were present. The seeds 

 of poison oak and other species of Rhus formed 14 percent. "They 

 were not found in many stomachs, but appear to be eaten in consider- 

 able quantities when eaten at all." The miscellaneous part of the 

 vegetable food, amounting to 26 percent, consisted of mast, weed seed, 

 galls, and rubbish. Professor Beal concludes : "It is not probable that 

 the California thrasher will ever become of special economic interest 

 unless under very exceptional circumstances. In the meantime it per- 

 forms its part in the great work of reducing the vast numbers of 

 insects." 



The thrashers will eat figs and cactus fruit, such as that of the cul- 

 tivated "spineless" Opwitia^ but as a rule they show little interest in 

 any kind of fruit too large to be swallowed whole ; obviously the shape 

 of the bill is not well adapted to biting. They are very fond of grapes, 

 especially the small seedless varieties, and display gi-eat persistence 

 in finding openings through any sort of net that may be put over them. 

 They relish also the berrylike grains of the pomegranate, available to 

 them after the splitting of the hard rind. As with many other birds, 

 offerings of crumbs and table scraps seem to be most acceptable in cool 

 weather, or when there are families to be fed. At times California 

 thrashers will visit a feeding-table regularly and eat quantities of dry 

 bread crumbs, a food which the mockingbird only occasionally deigns 



