The Food of B'nuh. 119 



A u q list . 



Twelve birds were obtained in this month, the first on 

 the 7th and the last on the 80th, all from McLean and ad- 

 joining counties Three of these were young, but as no 

 difference of food was noticed corresponding to age, these 

 are not treated separately. 



The food record of August resembles that of June, owing, 

 doubtless, to the diminution of the smaller garden fruits 

 at this time and to the fact that the wild fruits have not 

 yet generally come into bearing. The insect percentages 

 are, therefore, much larger than in July, and it is instruct- 

 ive to notice that this increase is first apparent and most 

 evident in the ratios of ants — an indication of the positive 

 preference of the catbird for this food. Nearly one-half 

 of the forty-six per cent, of insects eaten in this month 

 were ants. A bee, a gall-fly and an ichneumon were no- 

 ticed among the other Hymenoptera. Forty per cent, of 

 the food was caterpillars, a considerable proportion of 

 which were cutworms. Only six per cent, of the food was 

 Coleoptera, and the only predaceous beetle taken hy these 

 birds was one specimen of Crataeanthus duhius. Three 

 per cent, of the food was scavenger-beetles, including 

 Geotrupes and Bolhocerus farctus. It is in this month 

 that the Meloidre appear abundantly on goldenrods and 

 other Composita3, but only a single Epicauta was found in 

 the food of one of these birds. The few plant-beetles no- 

 ticed included a single Diahrotica vittata. Seven per 

 cent, of Hemiptera were eaten ; largely chinch-bugs, ta- 

 ken by one of the birds. This fearful pest of the grain- 

 fields was sufficiently abundant in the vicinity of Normal 

 this year sensibly to injure the crops of grain. Nearly all 

 the species of birds examined were found to eat them to 

 some extent, but in quantities so trifling as probably to 

 have little or no effect upon their multiplication. It is 

 evident, however, that the birds have no especial preju- 

 dice against them. The remainder of the Hemiptera were 

 the ordinary "soldier-bugs," belonging to the genus 

 Euschistus. 



Orthoj)tera appear in somewhat larger ratio, amounting 

 to seven per cent, of the food, an indication, doubtless, of 



