28 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



Even now Ave are in the midst of a far-reacliin<? and expensive cam- 

 paign against the destructive ground squirrels, which have increased 

 just in proportion to the decrease of their natural enemies, the raptorial 

 birds. Our horticultural commis.sioners, too, are searching far and 

 wide for new insecticides and sprays for the control of insect pests, and 

 when we recall in connection with this latter statement the fact that the 

 stomach of a single Brewer blackbird, taken for examination, Avas found 

 to contain 374 larA'ie, 65 pupa^ and three adult alfalfa AA^eevils, besides 

 several other bugs, Ave can not but reflect that possibly our efforts were 

 too much in one direction. 



Fig. 2d. Photograph sliowing stomach contents of a western meadowlark. This stomach 

 contained thirteen cutworms, twenty-six elaterid beetles, the larva of which is the wire 

 worm, and ten small ground beetles. Photograph by H. C. Bryant. 



Lest some might misunderstand the author's purpose in presenting 

 this article, let it be understood that this is not a plea for mere indis- 

 criminate protection to any and all Avild birds, for such a course would 

 be, in a measure, almost as ill-advised as the one avc have been pursuing. 



There is urgent need in the San Joaquin Valley for a thorough and 

 s^^stematic study of our birds in relation to the farmer and his crops. 

 This is one phase of our instruction in scientific farming that has 

 apparently fallen just betAveen the work of the farm adviser and the 

 duties of the horticultural commissioner, Avith the result that we are 

 still AA'oefully in the dark AAdien Ave seek information along this line. 

 Several of the eastern states have recognized this need and are meeting 

 it by appointing a competent official Avhose duty it is to carry on field 



