Vol. xxixn 



1912 



J Kennedy, Fruit-eating Habits of Sage Thrasher. 225 



This year I shot to exterminate those in the vineyard and I must 

 say that I was surprised at the quick results. The following table 

 shows the rapidity with which they were destroyed. 



they were easily approached but after that the few remaining birds 

 were very wary. These on being disturljed would fly up on posts 

 and then, seeing the gunner approach would dive into the grape 

 foliage and escape by running on the ground, or by short flights 

 from vine to vine close to the ground. The small number killed 

 and the speedy and complete disappearance of the species seemed 

 to indicate that they are very local in their individual ranges, and 

 that these were living altogether in the vineyard during their 

 depredations. 



While the Thrashers are silent birds at this season, I did hear two 

 short songs and one whispered song, also a cluck was given some- 

 times, when they were startled. 



The following table gives the contents of stomachs examined: — 



The omission of summer pruning is not a satisfactory method 

 of saving the Campbell's Early grapes as the later ripening in- 

 volves a loss of about 30% in value, as during this ten days delay 

 the grapes drop in market price from three cents a pound to two 

 cents. Therefore, if the Thrashers have to be killed before the 



