20 BULLETIN 107, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



adults and 2.41 larvae per bird. The largest number of weevils in 

 any one stomach was 12 adults and 75 larva?. Of the remaining ani- 

 mal food caterpillars formed the most important element (16.63 per 

 cent) , while aquatic fly larvae, some of which were Tipulidae, amount- 

 ed to about a tenth of the food. Ground beetles (4.44 per cent) and 

 weevils other than Phytonomus (2.25 per cent) were the only other 

 items worthy of mention. Among the latter the clover-root curculio 

 (Sitones) and several species of Spherwphorus, living on sedges, 

 occurred repeatedly. The vegetable element amounted to 44.9 per 

 cent, about two-thirds of which was grain. The rest consisted of 

 weed seeds and rubbish. 



In June, the period of greatest abundance of nestlings, these birds 

 eat the largest proportion of weevils. While parent birds are ob- 

 taining food for their young, they are inclined to partake of much 

 the same varieties. Of 42 birds examined only 2 had failed to eat 

 at least a trace of the weevil, and it was taken on an average of 5.24 

 adults and 27.16 larvae per bird. In bulk it amounted to 40.76 per 

 cent of the stomach contents. One male had eaten 5 adults and 108 

 larvae. A female had made away with 24 adults and 68 larvae. A 

 pair collected in a breeding marsh had taken, respectively, 12 adults 

 and about 90 larvae, and 2 adults and 100 larvae. The records of a 

 few others are 12 adults and 73 larvae, 5 adults and 77 larvae, 13 adults 

 and 58 larvae, 6 adults and 61 larvae, and in each of two cases 6 adults 

 and 60 larvae. 



Next in importance to the weevil came caterpillars, which com- 

 posed 17.38 per cent of the food for June. Aquatic and ground 

 beetles formed a little over 5 per cent each; flies (largely the larvae 

 of aquatic species) 4.29 per cent ; and spiders 3 per cent. The vege- 

 table portion (12.67 per cent) was largely grain. 



In July one male devoured 2 adults and 10 larvae of the weevil. 



Summary. — While the adult redwing eats its largest amount of 

 weevils (over 40 per cent) in June, its greatest worth as a weevil 

 destroyer lies in the fact that it is among the earliest of the weevil- 

 eating migrants, often preying on these insects when snow is still on 

 the ground. The food habits of the young are also in the bird's 

 favor. 



WESTERN MEADOWLARK. 



(Sturnella neglccta.) 



The western meadowlark (PL II) is a familiar bird of the Great 

 Basin, and judging from early records is becoming more numerous in 

 Utah as time goes on. Being a resident the year round, it is a com- 

 mon visitor to alfalfa fields as soon as snow leaves, and is more fre- 

 quently met during April and early May than later in the year. 



