THE THRUSHES AND THEIR ALLIES. 87 



former and twenty-two per cent, of the latter having been 

 eaten. The larvge of the two-lined soldier-beetle, a pre- 

 daceous species, had been eaten to the extent of eight per 

 cent, and young grasshoppers to the extent of nine per cent. 

 Ground-beetles formed five per cent, of the food, soldier-bugs 

 seven per cent., spiders and crickets each four per cent. 

 The ratios of parasitic and predaceous species were very 

 high, these making thirty-nine per cent, of total food for the 

 month. 



In March thirty-eight per cent, of cutworms and related 

 caterpillars, part of them being army-worms, and one per 

 cent, of crickets and grasshoppers were eaten. In April 

 large numbers of small dung-beetles were present in the 

 stomachs. Eight per cent, of ground-beetles, nine per cent, 

 of spiders, and twenty-one per cent, of caterpillars were also 

 present. The number of spiders eaten in May was unusual, 

 these forming twenty-one per cent, of the food. Moths, 

 caterpillars, June-beetles, and grasshoppers had been eaten 

 freely this month, forming fifty-five per cent, of the stomach 

 contents. In June winged ants and various spiders had been 

 eaten, as well as measuring worms and ground-beetles. A 

 few birds had eaten a small number of raspberries and goose- 

 berries. 



The most remarkable elements of the food in July con- 

 sisted of grasshoppers and crickets (twenty-seven per cent.) 

 and June-beetles (twelve per cent.). Caterpillars, ground- 

 beetles, and spiders composed the more important parts of 

 the remainder. The chief business of the month of August 

 was the pursuit of locusts, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, and 

 caterpillars. The three first named amounted to more than 

 half of the food for the month, and the moths and caterpil- 

 lars to more than one-fourth. The only fruits present were 

 a few wild cherries and elder-berries. 



in September the common red-legged grasshopper was 

 largely eaten. This and related grasshoppers, together with 



