REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. . 67 
Forbes’ stomach examinations, previously mentioned, also tend to 
cast discredit upon the Lady-birds as Chinch Bug destroyers. 
VERTEBRATE ENEMIES.—Professor Riley published many years 
ago, in the Prairie Farmer, the fact that the common Quail or ‘* Bob 
White” (Colinus virginianus) was a most efficient destroyer of the 
Chinch Bug, and this fact has since been confirmed by other writers. 
Dr. Riley says: “‘In the winter time, when hard pushed for food, 
they must devour enormous numbers of the little pests, which win- 
ter in just such situations as are frequented by the quail; and this 
bird should be protected from the gun of the sportsman in every 
State where the Chinch Bug is known to run riot.” We may add 
the corroborative evidence of Mr. Bruner, who as a taxidermist has 
had special opportunities for studying the habits of the quail. 
“Protect the birds, and, above all, the quails; for they destroy 
countless numbers of hibernating insects of various kinds that are to 
be picked up about the hedges and such like resorts frequented by 
these birds throughout the winter. Although belonging to the 
gramnivorous birds, the quail is essentially insectivorous, except in in- 
clement weather, when the latter are not easily to be obtained. In 
my profession as taxidermist I have dissected many different species 
of birds, in the crops of which were contained injurious insects of 
various kinds, the Chinch Bug among others. In no other instance 
do I remember of the presence of this insect in the crop of a bird in 
so great numbers as in that of the Quail. Asa rule but few birds, 
mammals, reptiles, or rapacious insects seem to relish any of the 
odoriferous members of the Hemiptera or true bugs. In winter, 
however, this repugnance is partially overcome, and now and then 
even a Chinch Bug seems a avteate morsel when ‘ meat’ is scarce.” 
The Prairie Chicken, the Red-winged Blackbird, and other birds 
have been reported as feeding wpon the Chinch Bug, and Professor 
Forbes mentions the fact that one Cat-bird, three Brown Thrushes, 
and one Meadow-lark were found in 1880 to have eaten these insects 
**in barely sufficient number to show that the birds have no un- 
conquerable prejudice against them. A single house-wren, shot in 
1882, had also eaten a few Chinch Bugs.” Dr. Thomas states that 
the common Frog, according to Professor Ross and others, consumes 
a large number of the bugs. ‘‘ Professor Ross goes so far as to ex- 
press the belief that the destruction of these animals by draining their 
natural haunts is one reason why the Chinch Bug is enabled to mul- 
tiply as it does in some seasons.” 
No account of an injurious insect is complete without an enumer- 
ation of its natural enemies, and hence this summary has been given. 
It is plain, however, that the foes of the Chinch Bug are neither so 
numerous nor so active in its pursuit as are those of most of our other 
injurious insects. Almost the solitary exception seems, from the evi- 
dence, to be the common Quail, and on this account the following 
short table has been compiled. It illustrates the months in which the 
shooting of quails is allowed in the States in which the Chinch Bug be- 
comes or may become injurious, and it shows that while these birds 
are in the main tolerably well protected, certain of the States which 
suffer most from the Chinch iis might with profit follow the ex- 
ample of Colorado or Dakota and protect the Quail altogether for a 
series of yéars. 
New York: Shooting of quails allowed from November 1 to January 1. 
Maryland : Shooting of quails allowed from November 1 to December 24. There 
are, however, in this State, local county laws, some of which allow the shooting as 
early as October 1. 
