48 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 



a value greater than that of any other group of birds whose economic status has 

 thus far been investigated. The native Sparrows contrast markedly in this respect 

 with the introduced English Sparrow, the pernicious habits of which have formed 

 the subject of a special report, and are briefly treated in this bulletin for purpose of 

 comparison (see p. 92). This naturalized Sparrow is a pest wherever it is found, 

 while the native Sparrows are well worthy of protection and encouragement." 



Snowflake : Snowbunting {Passerina nivalis). —"From the examination of the 

 stomachs collected, it would appear that the Snowflake derives fully half its subsist- 

 ence from two weeds — amaranth and ragweed, and that it does not to any great 

 extent feed on the seeds of crab-grass, pigeon-grass, or other grasses, though it 

 should be stated that Mcllwraith reports it as eating the seeds of broom sedge 

 {Andropogon scoparius). Only one per cent of the food contained in the 46 

 stomachs examined was grass seed. Hut in addition to the fact that the number 

 of stomachs examined was too small to permit final conclusions to be drawn, for 

 other reasons this should not be taken as showing a distaste for grass seed. The 

 taste for similar food, as shown by the partiality of the birds for grain, and the 

 quantity of grass seed eaten by the closely allied, more southerly ranging Long- 

 spurs, indicate that the abstinence of the Snowflake from this food is due to neces- 

 sity and not choice. We must remember that the grass seed, which falls to the 

 ground when ripe instead of clinging to the stalk, as do many of the seeds of 

 amaranth, lamb's-quarters, and ragweed, is probably buried under the snow during 

 most of the time the Snowflakes are here. The amaranth is tall and its seeds are 

 particularly clinging, and after very heavy snowfalls it is probably the most avail- 

 able food supply the Snowflakes have. Its seeds form half the food found in the 

 stomachs collected in February and March, some of which contained 500 to 1,500 

 each. Such a wholesale destruction of the seeds of this rank weed as is thus indi- 

 cated is not accomplished by any other bird whose food habits have thus far been 

 investigated. With most species of seed-eating birds amaranth is by no means an 

 important article of diet. 



" On account of its work as a good weed destroyer and the apparent absence of 

 any noticeable detrimental food habits, the Snowflake seems to deserve high com- 

 mendation, and should receive careful protection. Feeding in latitudes that have 

 been deserted by most other weed-destroying birds, these birds render a distinct 

 and most effective service to the northern farmer. And to this should be added 

 that it is their habit, and that of their congeners, the Longspurs, to feed far out in 

 the open plains without regard to the presence of trees or shrubs. In this way they 

 accomplish work that would otherwise be left undone; for most of the other mem- 



