408 University of California Publications in Zoology [VOL. 11 



melon growers in the vicinity of Dinuba, Tulare County, were 

 handed in as those of men who were greatly troubled. One re- 

 turned a verdict of "not guilty," and the other reported that 

 the damage was not very great. All of the growers report that 

 as soon as there are broken melons in the field the birds cease 

 to be troublesome. Apparently the depredations of meadowlarks 

 on melons have been exaggerated. 



There is evidence to support the view that meadowlarks bore 

 into the melons to obtain water. Whether or not they are at- 

 tracted by the sweet taste we cannot say. The placing of water 

 in a field as an experiment would doubtless confirm or disprove 

 this view. 



An occasional complaint that meadowlarks are injurious to 

 grapes has been received. Inquiry in grape-growing sections of 

 the state has led to the conclusion that such damage is negligible. 

 A number of birds are destructive to grapes, chief of which are 

 the oriole and grosbeak. Both of these birds are well known as 

 fruit eaters. The meadowlark, on the other hand, seldom turns 

 its attention to fruit of any kind. No damage to grapes caused 

 by the meadowlark has been noted in the field. 



Investigations of the damage caused by meadowlarks has led 

 to the following conclusions: 



1. The western meadowlark is destructive in sprouting grain 

 fields, because of its habit of drilling down beside the sprout 

 and pulling up the kernel. The amount of damage done is de- 

 pendent on the particular location, the abundance of the birds, 

 the character of the soil, the time of year, depth and method of 

 planting, and the kind of grain. The damage to oats is greatest, 

 wheat suffers considerable damage, whereas barley suffers but 

 little. Broadcasted grain suffers more than drilled, because not 

 being sowed so deeply it is more easily obtained by meadowlarks. 

 The birds often follow the drill row and pull almost every kernel. 

 Occasionally, where meadowlarks are very numerous and the 

 quantity of grain small, fields have had to be resown. The real 

 amount of damage done has evidently been overestimated, for 

 fields apparently badly damaged have given the average yield 

 later in the year. After the second and third leaf appears on 

 the grain, the bird can do little damage. This fact reduces the 



