1914] Bryant: Economic Status of the Western Meadowlark 399 



of food contained in a large number of stomachs in cubic centi- 

 meters and taking an average volume. This allowed the record- 

 ing of each stomach as being of average volume, over the average, 

 or below the average. 



Identification of the various insects and weed seeds found 

 in the stomachs has been difficult. Help from the experts of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, from the Department 

 of Entomology of the University of California, and from others 

 has facilitated greatly the identification. Certain field work, 

 embracing studies of the abundance of birds, the depredations 

 of birds, nesting habits, the relation of the birds to insect out- 

 breaks, the kind, amount, and availability of food, and the time 

 of digestion, has afforded needed supplementary information. 



In addition to the importance of this investigation to agri- 

 cultural interests, it has been fruitful of valuable data from the 

 standpoint of science. Although the investigation has been car- 

 ried on primarily to furnish practical information as to the exact 

 relation of the western meadowlark to agriculture and horticul- 

 ture, yet no pains have been spared to collect data of purely 

 scientific interest. The importance of a knowledge of life-histories 

 has been emphasized only of late. Information as to the food 

 of any form of life constitutes one of the most far-reaching 

 phases of its life-history. As Forbes (1903) pointed out: 

 "Since the struggle for existence is chiefly a struggle for sub- 

 sistence, a careful comparative account of the food of various 

 competing species and genera, at different places and seasons 

 and at all ages of the individual, such as has not heretofore been 

 made for any class of animals, cannot fail to throw much light 

 upon the details, causes and effects of .this struggle. The flexi- 

 bility of the food habits of the widely ranging species, the direct 

 effects of normal departures from the usual average of food 

 elements upon the origin of variations, and the general reactions 

 of birds upon their organic environment, are examples of subjects 

 upon which light should be thrown by this investigation." 



In this investigation the difference in food habits of the 

 nestling and adult has been clearly demonstrated by the exami- 

 nation of a large number of specimens. The difference in the 

 kind and amount of food taken by the two sexes is made available 



