21 



snap beetles) or their larvae (wire worms), which formed 10.92 

 per cent of their stomach contents. The larvse of these beetles 

 (wire worms) are well known to agriculturists as destructive 

 to grain and garden crops, but many native birds eat them. 

 Carabidte, or ground beetles, were represented in 42 stomachs. 

 While these beetles are generally regarded as useful insects, 

 some of them have been known to become injurious • where 

 they have increased abnormally, therefore their destruction can- 

 not be set down as altogether to the discredit of the starling. 

 The genus Calosoma is represented in 1 stomach. This genus 

 is believed to contain only beneficial insects. One bird had 

 taken some Lampyrids. Three had taken Lcptinotarsa de- 

 cemlineata, the Colorado potato beetle, which formed 16.67 

 per cent of the stomach contents. If the starling acquires the 

 habit of eating Colorado potato beetles it may be a help to the 

 farmers in this respect, as few native birds eat them. Eleven 

 starlings had taken a few scarabseid beetles, which formed on 

 the average 8.54 per cent of the stomach contents. Weevils 

 were represented in 28 stomachs, and constituted 7.07 per cent 

 of their contents. Beetles of the genus Lachnosferna, commonly 

 called May beetles, or their larvae, commonly known as white 

 grubs, were represented in 13 stomachs, and comprised 14.53 

 per cent of their contents. These beetles are very destructive, 

 as the white grub feeds on the tubers and roots of plants. 

 This genus is one of the well-known enemies of grass and 

 garden crops, but many of our native birds feed upon all forms 

 of these beetles. Two birds had taken chrysomelid beetles, 

 which feed on the foliage of trees, but they formed only 2 per 

 cent of the stomach contents of these two birds. 



Orthoptera are represented by grasshoppers in 17 stomachs, 

 forming 19.88 per cent of their contents. There were a few 

 crickets. This is rather a small showing, as practically all 

 birds eat grasshoppers, but probably a larger proportion of 

 grasshoppers would have been found had the birds been taken 

 later in the season. 



Hemiptera, or bugs, were found in only 3 stomachs, and 

 Diptera in only 1, the proportion of each being very small. 

 Hymenoptera were found in 17 stomachs. This order was 

 represented mainly by ants. It seems probable that the 



