RED-SHAFTED FLICKER. 61 



HYMENOPTERA (ANTS). 



Formica subpolitn. Cremastogaster lineolata. 



Formica neorujibarbis. Cremastogaster sp. 



Formica obscurivcntris. Solenopsis geminata. 



Formica obscuripes. Prenolepis imparis. 



Formica *p. Myrmica lobicornis. 



( '<tni ponotus marginatus. Myrmica sp. 



I.axius americanus. Messor andrei. 

 Lasius sp. 



CRUSTACEA. 



Sowbug (Porcellio scaber). 



MOLLUSCA. 



Snail (Lymnsea columella). 



Vegetable food. Fruit was eaten to the extent of 10.28 per cent of 

 the red-shafted flicker's food. It appears to be taken rather irregu- 

 larly, but probably examination of a greater number of stomachs 

 would show it to be a pretty regular article of diet, as the eastern 

 flicker is a constant fruit eater. The greatest amount is taken in 

 November, when it aggregated 31.84 per cent. September stands 

 next with 23.75 per cent. Like the eastern species, this bird eats 

 more fruit in fall and winter than in the warmer months. Grapes 

 were identified in 12 stomachs, and probably nearly all were of culti- 

 vated varieties. Domestic cherries were found in one stomach, what 

 was thought to be apple pulp in 9, and fruit pulp not further identi- 

 fied in 11. This is the whole list of cultivated fruit, if we suppose 

 the last item to have been of domestic varieties, but as the greater 

 part of it was taken in the winter or late fall months, probably little 

 harm was done. Wild fruits of 6 varieties were found in 10 stom- 

 achs. There appear to be less small fruits or berries available for 

 bird food on the western side of the Rocky Mountains than on the 

 eastern. This is well illustrated in the diet of the two flickers; the 

 eastern species has 31 kinds of wild fruit in its bill of fare to 6 of the 

 western bird. This difference has been noted in the food of other 

 closely allied species, one from the East and the other from the West. 



Grain amounts to 2.26 per cent of the food. It was found in Janu- 

 ary, August, October, and November, and consisted of corn in 14 

 stomachs, barley in 1, and oats in 1. The barley and oats were 

 taken in January, and were therefore waste grain. The corn must 

 have been obtained from the standing crop, and indeed much of it 

 had been eaten while in the milk. This is not, however, a heavy 

 indictment against the flicker and may well be excused. Seeds of 

 various shrubs and herbs and some rubbish amount to 19.59 per cent, 

 and make up the quota of vegetable food. The largest part of this 

 item consists of seeds of the different poisonous Rhuses, commonly 



