INDEX TO PAPEKS RELATING TO FOOD OF BIRDS. 27 



1895. 



Four common birds of the farm and garden. By Sylvester D. Judd. 

 pp. 405^18. figs. 100-109. 



The four common birds referred to are the catbird, mockingbird, brown 

 thrasher, and house wren. The range and general habits of each are de- 

 scribed; attention is given to any complaints that have been made against the 

 species, and the evidence as to food derived from stomach examination and 

 from experiment are discussed. The verdict is favorable to the brown 

 thrasher and wren, unfavorable to the catbird, and in the case of the mock- 

 ingbird, from lack of material, judgment is suspended. 



The meadow lark and Baltimore oriole. By F. E. L. Beal. pp. 

 419-430. figs. 110-111. 



Although these birds belong to the same family, they have very different 

 habits. The terrestrial meadow lark feeds to a great extent upon grasshoppers, 

 while the most important item of the insect food of the arboreal oriole is 

 caterpillars. The other items of food of both species are fully discussed, and 

 the verdict in each case is in favor of the bird. 



Professor Beal points out an error in the calculation on page 422 of the 

 amount saved a township by meadow larks feeding on grasshoppers. The 

 final figure should be about $356, instead of $24. This change was made in 

 the reprints. 



Erroneous ideas concerning hawks and owls. [By A. K. Fisher.] 



p. 590. 



Most of this short note is a quotation of the economic classification of the 

 hawks and owls given by Doctor Fisher in the Yearbook for 1894, pp. 217-218. 



1896. 



Extermination of noxious animals by bounties. By T. S. Palmer. 



pp. 55-68. 



The history of bounty legislation in the United States, expense of the system, 

 objections to it, and the results accomplished are discussed. As bounties have 

 been paid on several kinds of birds, the economic status of the species affected 

 receives passing notice. 



The blue jay and its food. By F. E. L. Beal. pp. 197-206. figs. 



40-42. 



This is a complete discussion of the range, habits, and- economic value of 

 the blue jay. Details are given as to the insect and vegetable food. Experi- 

 ments to determine preferences of a captive jay are described. Except for 

 the nest-robbing proclivities of the jay, upon which final judgment is not passed, 

 the bird is thought to do far more good than harm. 



Erroneous ideas concerning hawks and owls. [By A. K. Fisher.] 



p. 628. 

 Comment under same title in previous Yearbook applies here. 



1897. 

 Birds that injure grain. By F. E. L. Beal. pp. 345-354. 



Professor Beal discusses the cause of the increase in numbers of the prin- 

 cipal grain-eating birds, outlines the damage done, and gives somewhat ex- 

 tended accoirnts of the food habits of 5 species, particularly in relation to 

 grain. Four other species are briefly mentioned. 



