301 



A THOUSAND STOMACHS EXAMINED. 



Within the past fifteen years the writer lias made, 

 during- tlie different montlis of the year, examinations 

 of nearly one thousand stomachs of Crow Blackbirds, 

 taken in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Floi- 

 ida. 



In brief, it can be stated that these examinations 

 showed that in the fall when insect food was scarce 

 corn was laigcly eaten by these birds, but during jtre- 

 vii>.is jteriods of theii- residence in Pennsylvania differ- 

 ent forms of insect-life constitute by far the larger por- 

 tion of their diet. 



THEY ARE FOND OF LARVAE. 



Blackbirds are very partial to grub worms, cut- 

 worms and other larvae, which they find in newly- 

 plowed gpc-und, com fields and pasture. As stated 

 elesewlu re this species as well as the Bronzed Grackle. 

 a subspecies of the Crow Blackbird which is the coni- 

 mon form in the westei'n part of Pennsylvania, was 

 found to feed with gi'eat eagerness on the destructive 

 Army ^yorm whicli was so numerous and very gener- 

 ally dispersed tliroughout this State in ISOO, when this 

 crawling and voracious pest destroyed grain and other 

 cro])s to the amount of about $300,000 (estimated). 



THEY CWTCH GRASSHOPPERS. 



Blackbirds love to catch and eat the friskv grass- 

 hopj)ei's which often do so much damage to the farm- 

 er's crops; and they also devour numerous kinds of 

 ground beetles. They will eat the destructiv(< i.luni 

 curculio. and likewise devour its larvae. 



WILL EAT U^HEAT, OATS AND CORN. 



They visit the oat and wheat stubl)le or the corn field 



