402 University of California Publications in Zoology [VOL. 11 



ing habits, depredations, etc., of the western meadowlark. As 

 has been stated, this particular locality was chosen because it 

 afforded not only an abundance of birds, but also a favorable 

 proportion of cultivated and uncultivated land, thus allowing a 

 study of food preference. 



The field work carried on can be grouped under three heads : 

 studies of the abundance, of the habits, and of the depredations. 

 Studies of the relations of birds to insects and to insect outbreaks 

 have also been included in the field investigation, but will be 

 discussed in another place. (See p. 456.) 



ABUNDANCE OF THE WESTERN MEADOWLARK 



Several findings in connection with the field work have tended 

 to minimize somewhat the depredations of the meadowlark. Per- 

 haps one of the most important is the preference which the bird 

 shows for uncultivated land. Censuses have absolutely demon- 

 strated that, during hours of feeding, western meadowlarks are 

 more abundant in pasture land than in cultivated fields. Evi- 

 dence as to the abundance of the western meadowlark is also 

 afforded by the censuses. 



The following are censuses taken in the vicinity of Lathrop, 

 San Joaquin County, on a two and one-half hour drive : 



Uncultivated Cultivated 



( Pasture ) ( Grain and alfalfa ) 



February 28, 1912 158 65 



May 31, 1912 69 27 



These two censuses covered practically the same length of time 

 and the same territory. As the birds were seen in flocks in 

 February, it is only natural that more birds were recorded. May 

 being in the nesting season, the birds were then more widely 

 scattered and not so easily seen. It is apparent that the meadow- 

 lark prefers uncultivated land even at the time of feeding. A 

 similar census taken at Acampo, San Joaquin County, during 

 an hour's walk (2-3 P.M.), resulted as follows: 



Number 



Orchards, vineyards, and pasture 25 



Grain fields ... 2 



