40 University of California Publications in Zoology [ Vou. 17 
KINDS AND QUANTITIES OF FOOD ITEMS 
The principal items of food as shown by this investigation and 
the relative percentage volume of each are indicated in the accom- 
panying figure (text fig. A). The outstanding feature is the 
preponderance of insect food. The roadrunner is primarily in- 
both vegetable and vertebrate food forming minor 
elements. So far as bulk is concerned, the amount of grasshoppers 
and crickets taken was double the amount of beetles and these elements 
taken together formed more than half of the total food. 
sectivorous, 
TABLE IIL 
NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES OF ROADRUNNERS TAKING DIFFERENT KINDS OF FoopD 
2 
Zz iB 3 
an o 
2 : E pf 6E g 8 
S 8 ¥ 2 5 Sn 5 S 2 ica} a 
Ts = a S & = 2 = = a o a S 
aes 3. E 2 8 Sa 2 & “ 2 = 
Be of Bl « (Ae pale Re) See SS ee eee me 
ae a = ° 3 n Bo mM 5S oS ‘S) a 4 
26 2 il 5 1 4 3, 62 4 52 23 ait 4 
$31.3 24 12 60 12 48 3.6 74.7 48 62:6 27.7 13.2 4:8 
o 
= 
cs) zm 
i = n 3 
Sa Sis 3 
a a oe a Sj w S 2 CS 5 
Ba) eB ae ee et ee Sao 3 
of 6§ 5 oe g 4 = 4E a = mI n g 
eo P< 4 og a 8 o 12) = = 77) ~ Ls) 8 
aS = & 25 2 Pe z S 8 = E et ia] S 
Shs) A jay PeHH IS) q < Rn 1) = 1S) fan} f-2) = 
15 4 2 5 11 22 8 14 2 2 2 4 2 4 
18.2 48 24 6.0 13.2 265 7.2 168 24 24 24 48 24 6.0 
A tabulation (table IIT) of the number of birds taking the differ- 
ent elements of food is helpful in showing preference. It will be seen 
that this table verifies the conclusions already made as a result of 
the percentage-volume method. About three times as many birds 
had taken beetles, grasshoppers and crickets as had taken any other 
insect. Of the birds examined but four had taken reptiles, the same 
number had taken mammals and but two had taken birds; the material 
in one of these instances was doubtfully identified as being the intes- 
tines of a bird. The fact that fourteen birds had taken scorpions 
indicates that this invertebrate is a fairly common element of food 
in the diet of the roadrunner. The table shows no other distinct 
preference for a certain element of food. 
