APPENDIX. 



379 



are divided pretty evenly between the two. The following table shows the orders 

 represented, as well as the number of species and individuals in each, and these are 

 further classified under the heads beneficial, injurious and neutral : 



Table showing the nature of the insect food in sixty-three stomachs of the 



Common Crow. 



In addition to the true insects mentioned above, the stomachs contained remains of at least three 

 species of spiders and two of myriapods. sixteen specimens in all, and all beneficial. 



The order Coleoptera (beetles) is most numerously represented, and a majority 

 of the species are beneficial. It is an interesting fact that no less than eighteen spe- 

 cies of predaceous beetles (Cicindelidce and Carabidce) are included in this number, 

 together with nearly a dozen species of the scavenger beetles (/Scarabceidce). Some 

 of these are species possessing disagreeable odors, and it is somewhat surprising 

 that the crow should take them unless other food was scarce. They occur mosi 

 abundantly, however, in stomachs taken in May, June and July, when other food 

 must have been abundant. Among the injurious beetles identified are the flat- 

 headed apple-tree borer (Chrysobothris), of which a single specimen was found; 

 May beetles (Lachnosterna') in five stomachs (nine specimens in one) ; and a few 

 other borers and leaf-feeders. Three small weevils were taken from one stomach 

 and considered "injurious insects," as they are, but it is probable that they were 

 hidden in kernels of corn which were eaten by the crow. 



The order Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, etc.) is well represented by one 

 hundred and fifty specimens belongingto seventeen species. Twenty-eight stomachs 

 contained examples of this order, and the results of stomach examination in this 

 case bear out the statements of observers and show that in this direction the work 

 done by the crow is entirely beneficial, as all these insects are more or less injurious. 



The order Hymenoptera, including the wasps, bees, ants, etc., is represented in 

 the material taken from the crow stomachs by one hundred and thirty-four speci- 

 mens belonging to seventeen species, all but one of which are beneficial. A species 

 of saw fly, decidedly injurious, was found in one stomach, and seven larvae of the 

 same or another species in a second stomach. One of these stomachs, however, also 

 contained the remains of a young bird, apparently a nestling, and it is not improba- 

 ble that the saw flies came from this source. Two other stomachs contained remains 

 of ichneumon flies belonging to different genera. These are among the most bene- 

 ficial of insects, destroying particularly large numbers of caterpillars. 



Only one other order requires special mention, viz., the Lepidoptera. In this are 

 included the butterflies and moths the .larvae of which are almost invariably de- 

 structive. Contrary to what might have been expected, the crow stomachs do not 

 show many representatives of this order. Six species, five of which are decidedly 

 injurious, were recognized, but the sixteen specimens were distributed among nine 

 stomachs. The family NoctitidcBj which includes the cut-worms, was represented 

 by nine specimens in six stomachs ; that is, but six crows out of eighty-six had 

 eaten any cut-worms. 



In concluding this imperfect summary of the insectivorous habits of the Common 

 Crow it must be conceded that the showing is not very favorable for the bird. 



