Pomona Coli-ec.e JouRNiVL op Entomology 809 



"and one of these i)i'i)lial)ly relates to the capture of a very recently eiiiergeil 

 specimen, or to one torn Iroin the pupa before emergence, as it was aceoni- 

 panied l)y a pupa of the same species." Wiietiier hutterfiies are too active 

 to l)e caui;lit, whetiu^' they are too dry, or whether they have a disafirceable 

 taste, are ([uestions still awaitirii;- solution. In Ihr investigation of an out- 

 l)i'eak of butterflies (Eitfjonia (■(tiif(jniiva) in iKirthern CalitVu'nia during' the 

 sununer of I!)!!, it was found that Brewer blacki)irds were fcediii}.' on this 

 butterfly to a considera))Ie extent, and that the western meadowiark. wi'slern 

 kingl)ii-d. blue-l'ronted jay, and Say phocbe occasionally took one of the 

 insects. 



The t'ollowiiifi' dependable observation made by Mr. John (1. Tyler of 

 Fresno, California, also furnishes evidence of the fact that buttertlies are 

 occasionally, at least, destroyed by birds: "While strolling along the road 

 east of this city the writer noticed a field of alfalfa that was infested with 

 yellow butterflies. A nearer approach revealed the presence of several 

 meadowlarks, and I was so fortunate as to see one of these birds seize a 

 butterfly and make away with it. 1 am not prepared to say that the victim 

 was actually swallowed, but it was certainly captured and killed." During 

 the past summer the writer saw English sparrows trying to catch cabbage 

 butterflies (Pontia sp.) which were abundant in a garden near Los Banos, 

 Merced County. One bird was actually seen to capture a butterfly. 



Another interesting find was the larva of the morning cloak butterfly 

 (Euvanessa antiopa). This larva is one of the most hairy of our caterpillars. 

 Other small hairy caterpillars have also been found in the stomachs. Both 

 the larva and the pupa of the sphinx moth have been found. 



Thus we see that birds although having a preference for certain articles 

 of diet, do occasionally pick up certain other forms of life wliich we have 

 often considered to be entirely protected by stings, hairs, or noxious secre- 

 tions. We have still much to learn of the food-habits of birds. The actual 

 part which they play in the interaction of organisms is a problem of im- 

 portance. The economic value of the western meadowiark does not depend 

 so lai'gely on the fact that it destroys only injiirioit^ insects, as that it destroys 

 insects. The various proportions taken probably represent availability rather 

 than preference. 



