1914] Bryant: Economic Status of the Western Meadowlark 463 



1. Name 



2. Address _ 



3. Occupation 



4. How many acres of land do you own? 



Is your ranch hilly upland or bottom land? 



5. What is the principal crop raised? 



What other crops? 



6. Has the meadowlark done any harm on your place? 



If so, how and to what extent! 



7. Have you examined the stomachs of any meadowlarks to ascertain their 



food? If so, what was in the stomachs? 



8. Approximately, how many meadowlarks are seen daily on your place? 



Are the numbers any greater when the grain 



is sprouting? 



9. Do you prize the meadowlark as a song bird? 



10. On the whole, do you consider the meadowlark a nuisance? 



Any additional information that you can give on the subject will be 

 appreciated. Address all communications to H. C. Bryant, Assistant State 

 Fish and Game Commission, East Hall, University of California, Berkeley, 

 California. 



Over a hundred replie.s to this letter were received. Although 

 the returns may be criticised on the grounds that a greater 

 number of those interested in the bird because of its esthetic 

 value sent in answers, yet care was taken to avoid this. Blanks 

 were sent to the men who complained of the depredations of the 

 meadowlark and to ranchers irrespective of their particular point 

 of view. The average acreage of the men reporting was 638, so 

 that it can be seen that the verdict is not from small land-holders 

 or orehardists. Over ninety-eight per cent of those reporting 

 grew grain or hay. 



When the returns as to whether the meadowlark is a nuisance 

 and as to whether it damages crops are classified as to counties 

 the results are as follows : 



