16 



Stomach examinations of the mourning dove has shown the bird to be 

 very valuable as a destroyer of weed seeds. Its great capacity (several 

 thousand seeds having been found in a single stomach) and its fondness 

 for the seeds of such weed pests as the mustard, turkey mullein, and 

 tumble weed attest its value. A very strong sentiment in favor of plac- 

 ing this bird on the protected list is rapidly being developed in this 



Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 



Animal food 

 Vegetable food 



58.6 



41.4 



FIG. 8. Diagram showing the proportion of animal and vegetable food of the|western 

 meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) for the year. 



State. Further work will certainly but demonstrate anew the value of 

 this bird to agricultural interests. 



Judging from the examination of one stomach, the investigation of 

 the food-habits of the roadrunner will reveal some astonishing facts as 

 to its capacity and food. The following was found in the stomach : 

 12 grasshoppers. 



1 cicada fly (Platypedia, sp.) 



2 noctuid moths. 



1 ant lion (Myrmeleon sp.) 



2 robber flies. 

 2 beetles. 



G bumble bees. 



4 spiders. 



1 harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys longicauda) . 



1 egg mass. 



