326 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull. 



pappus often failed to fly away, and clung to the birds, almost 

 burying them with down. A dozen of the birds were killed, and 

 their gizzards and gullets were found literally crammed with the 

 thistle seed. At Sing Sing, N. Y., Goldfinches have been seen 

 eating the seed of the Scotch thistle (Onopordon acanthium) and 

 boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum). Coneflowers (Rudbeckia 

 hirta), prairie sunflowers (Caillardia) , evening primroses, catnip, 

 elephant's-foot (Elephantopus sp.), and mullein also form part 

 of their food ; and late in the season they turn their attention to 

 ragweed, and consume great quantities of the seeds of this trouble- 

 some species. In winter and spring large flocks feed to some 

 extent upon the seeds of conifers and catkin-bearing trees, such 

 as the sycamore and birch. In destroying the seeds of the gray 

 birch (Betula populifolia) on the edge of grass lands they do 

 some good, for this tree has a habit of seeding adjacent pastures, 

 which then grow up into a thicket of young saplings." (Judd, 

 " Birds as Weed Destroyers/') 



The Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) and the Redpoll (Acanthis 

 linaria) " feed largely upon seeds of conifers, sycamores, birches, 

 and alders, but also descend to the ground to eat weed seed. In 

 winter they feed upon sow thistles (Sonchus oleraceus), field 

 asters (Aster sp.), and goldenrod (Solidago sp.). The Redpoll 

 Linnet is known to destroy mullein seeds (Verbascum thapsus), 

 and the Pine Siskin is often seen consuming quantities of seeds 

 of chickweed (Alsine media), lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium 

 album), and ragweed (Ambrosia artemisice folia)." (Judd, 

 " Birds as Weed Destroyers.") 



The Snowflake or Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis 

 nivalis), coming in winter to our snow-covered fields, feeds on 

 the seeds clinging to the weed stalks that stand above the drifts. 

 " From the examination of the stomachs collected, it would appear 

 that the Snowflake derives fully half its subsistence from two 

 weeds amaranth and ragweed ; and that it does not to any 

 great extent feed on the seeds of crab-grass, pigeon-grass, or 

 other grasses, though it should be stated that Mcllwraith reports 

 it as eating the seeds of broom sedge (Andropogon scoparius). 

 Only i per cent of the food contained in the 46 stomachs examined 

 was grass seed. But, in addition to the fact that the number 

 of stomachs examined was too small to permit final conclusions 



