6 Vitivcrsiti^i of California Puhlications in Zoology [Vol. 11 



mile on the two successive afternoons, July 11 and 12, is doubt- 

 less due to the fact that on July 12 more of the wooded portion 

 along canals was included, and also to the fact that more flocks 

 of red-wings were seen. That the bird population in the vicinity 

 of Los Banos is at least twelve times that found to be in the 

 vicinity of Merced, is a safe statement. The larger amount of 

 swamp land near Los Banos furnished food and cover for large 

 flocks of red-winged blackbirds and also for many species of 

 water-birds. With increased cultivation and irrigation, and a 

 consequent increase of insect life, the bird population should be 

 expected to increase in the vicinity of Merced. 



In determining by observation the birds feeding on grass- 

 hoppers, only those birds actually seen with grasshoppers in their 

 bills were recorded. The list is as follows : 



Western Meadowlark Sturiiella neglecta 



Bicolored Eed-wing Agelaius phoeniceus califoriiicus 



Brewer Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus 



Bullock Oriole Icterus buUocki 



Western Kingbird Tyranmis verticalis 



California Shrike Lanius ludovicianus gambeli 



English Sparrow Passer domesticus 



The following species, judging from their actions and their 

 food habits, appeared to be feeding on the pests : 



Curlew Numenius 



Killdeer Oxyechus vociferus 



Burrowing Owl Speotyto cunicularia liyiiogaea 



Swainson Hawk Buteo swainsoni 



Sparrow Hawk Falco sparverius sparverius 



Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xantliocephalus 



Tricolored Red-wing Agelaius tricolor 



California Horned Lark Otocoris alpestris actia 



Heermann Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia hecrmaiuii 



Western Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus strigatus 



Barn Swallow Hirundo erythrogastra 



Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons 



Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana occidentalis 



Western Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos leucopterus 



Either the same species or closely allied species of these same 

 birds were foimd by Professor Aughey to feed on grasshoppers, 

 lie found that even the goldfinch, known as a strict vegetarian, 

 fed on these insects when they were abundant. 



