422 JJ niversity of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 11 



of all the grain taken by the birds examined was consumed during 

 the three winter months — November, December, and January. 

 It is apparent, therefore, that availability, lack of insect food, 

 and possibly the sprouting condition of the grain are responsible 

 for this. Owing probably to the feeding habits of the bird, 

 mixtures of different grains are seldom found. The stomachs 

 usually contained one kind of grain only. 



Barley, because of its greater availability, is more often taken 

 than wheat. The barbs are seldom found in the stomach. One 

 hundred and fifty-five out of one thousand and nine hundred 

 birds had eaten barley. 



Wheat is taken less often, probably because it is less available. 

 One would suppose that a grain without the hull would be the 

 more palatable. Field corn {Zea mays) was taken by only seven 

 birds out of one thousand nine hundred and twenty, while ten 

 had eaten white milo maize {Andropogon sorghum) and other 

 vaneties of Egyptian corn. 



Quantity destroyed. — During the mouths of December and 

 January the meadowlark feeds largely on grain. Grain forms 

 nearly thirty-one per cent of the food for the year. Stomachs 

 are often found entirely filled with oats, barley, or wheat. As 

 many as thirty kernels, with enough hulls to account for as many 

 more, have been found in a single stomach (pi. 22, fig. 3). Less 

 than one per cent of the grain found in the stomachs has been 

 sprouted grain. Practically no grain is found in the stomachs 

 during the months of March and July. In that grain is more 

 slowly digested than insects, a smaller volume of grain is prob- 

 ably consumed daily. 



Economic importance. — For its destruction of sprouting grain, 

 the western meadowlark justly deserves criticism. In small fields, 

 where the birds are numerous, losses are great. The facts which 

 tend to minimize the damage done are as follows: Much of 

 the grain found in the stomachs is wild oats. Since cultivated 

 oats always contains more or less wild oats in California, it can- 

 not be said that injury does not result from the destruction 

 of the latter. However, much of that eaten must be taken in 

 places where no injury results. All of the grain taken in the 

 months of August, September, and October must be considered 



