426 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 11 



Boraginaceae (Borage family) 



Amsinckia intermedia. Amsinckia 



Amsinekia sp. Amsinckia 



Cynoglossum sp. Hound's tongue 

 Eubiaceae (Madder family) 



Galium sp. Bedstraw 

 Solanaceae (Nightshade family) 



Solanum sp. Nightshade 

 Compositae (Sunflower family) 



Lactuca scariola. Pricily lettuce 



Centaurea melitensis. Napa thistle 



Centaurea solstitialis. Barnaby's thistle 



Carduus sp. Thistle 



Hemizonia sp. Tarweed 



Helianthus annuus. Common sunflower 



Iva axillaris. Ragweed 



Economic importance of vegetable food. — The destruction of 

 sprouting grain means a loss of dollars and cents to the rancher. 

 This loss is minimized somewhat by the limited time during 

 which injury is possible and the possibility of protective measuras. 

 A much smaller lass can be attributed to the destruction of grain 

 picked up in newly sown fields. Grain on or near the surface 

 of the ground in seeded fields is of doubtful value, as it cannot 

 be depended upon to furnish a strong, healthy plant. Much of 

 the wild oats and some of the tame oats must be considered waste 

 grain or uncultivated grain. Its destruction, in spite of its 

 utility as feed, cannot be considered a direct loss in money value. 



Practically all the other seeds destroyed are the seeds of weed 

 pests. The destruction of the seeds of certain forage plants such 

 as filaree could be considered a detriment if they were destroyed 

 in large enough quantities to make any difference in the amount 

 of forage available. This same plant is considered a weed in 

 many places. Any destruction of the seeds of thistles, sunflowers, 

 Johnson grass and like weeds must be considered a benefit. 



Animal Food 



Coleoptera (Beetles) 



The most constant article of diet of the meadowlark consists 



of beetles. The habitat of the bird would forecast this fact. 



Ground-beetles (Carabidae, Tenebrionidae), click-beetles (Elate- 



