No. 2O.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 327 



to be drawn, for other reasons this should not be taken as show- 

 ing a distaste for grass seed. The taste for similar food, as 

 shown by the partiality of the birds for grain, and the quantity 

 of grass seed eaten by the closely allied, more southerly ranging 

 Long-spurs, indicate that the abstinence of the Snowflake from 

 this food is due to necessity and not choice. We must remember 

 that the grass seed, which falls to the ground when ripe, instead 

 of clinging to the stalk, as do many of the seeds of amaranth, 

 lamb's-quarters, and ragweed, is probably buried under the snow 

 during most of the time the Snowflakes are here. The amaranth 

 is tall, and its seeds are particularly clinging, and after very- 

 heavy snowfalls it is probably the most available food supply the 

 Snowflakes have. Its seeds form half the food found in the 

 stomachs collected in February and March, some of which con- 

 tained from 500 to 1,500 each. Such a wholesale destruction of 

 the seeds of this rank weed as is thus indicated is not accom- 

 plished by any other bird whose food habits have thus far been 

 investigated. With most species of seed-eating birds amaranth 

 is by no means an important article of diet. 



" On account of its good work as a weed destroyer and the 

 apparent absence of any noticeably detrimental food habits, the 

 Snowflake seems to deserve high commendation, and should re- 

 ceive careful protection. Feeding in latitudes that have been 

 deserted by most other weed-destroying birds, these birds render 

 a distinct and most effective service to the northern farmer." 

 ( Judd, " The Relation of Sparrows to Agriculture.") 



The Vesper Sparrow (Pocecetes gramineus gramineus), a 

 steadily decreasing summer resident of our hayfields, lives 

 chiefly on different injurious insects while it is with us, the animal 

 proportion of its food reaching 90 per cent in the height of sum- 

 mer. Beetles and grasshoppers are most sought after, and next 

 to them come " cutworms, army worms, and other smooth cater- 

 pillars that infest upland grass lands." " Its value to the farmer 

 is beyond question and should secure for it the fullest protection." 

 (Judd, " The Relation of Sparrows to Agriculture.") 



Regarding the Savanna Sparrow (Passer culus sand- 

 wichensis savanna), Dr. Judd finds from the examination of 119 

 stomachs that, " Their food contents consisted of 46 per cent of 

 animal matter, insects and their allies, and 54 per cent of vegeta- 



