428 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 93 



There were numerous species of flies in the undergrowth 

 and trees and we were unable to determine definitely the spe- 

 cies fed. We thought several times that we recognized rob- 

 ber flies, and once or twice saw the parents hunting among 

 the cattle, around which the stable flies swarmed. The ma- 

 jority of the moths were small, dull colored forms, which we 

 could not identify. Once or twice a large black species was 

 brought, and once a medium-sized underwing (Catocala sp?) 

 was given to the nestlings. Geometrid larvae furnished the 

 bulk of the larval forms, but many were fed which were 

 clearly different, and yet they could not be named. The only 

 wasp definitely referred to any species was the bald-faced 

 hornet (Vespa maculata) , caught as it flew from the blind. 

 Only the individuals recognized as long-horned grasshoppers 

 were placed under that head, all others being entered as grass- 

 hoppers. The red admiral (Pyrameis atlaivta) was very com- 

 mon and seemed to be easily captured by the Great Crests. 

 The other four butterflies were fritillaries (Argynnis sp?). 



We were almost positive that on several occasions the 

 nestlings were fed pieces of egg shell. Once while the blind 

 was within three feet of the nest a piece at least one-half inch 

 square was brought. It was broken and cracked and the 

 shell membrane ( ?) could be seen holding the parts together. 

 I suspected that this substance was egg- shell and asked my 

 wife (without telling her what I thought) if she had noticed 

 it. She replied that she had seen it fed, but could not deter- 

 mine its nature. . A day or two later she remarked that she 

 had identified it and stated that it was tgg shell. Whether 

 the identification was correct or not, there was plenty of op- 

 portunity for the birds to obtain the shells, as two camps and 

 the remains of innumerable picnics were near the nest. 



Food, Actions and Fate of the Nestlings. 



As the nestlings were in the nest cavity and not visible 

 from the blind we could not determine the distribution of 

 the food to them. The striking thing in the feeding, at least 



