FOOD HABITS OF THE SWALLOWS. 13 



were identified in the stomachs, most of them harmful and some ex- 

 ceedingly so. 



Ants are eaten by the barn swallow to the extent of 9.89 per cent 

 of the food, some stomachs being entirely filled with wingless species. 

 These were found in 124 stomachs, and in 14 there was no other food. 

 Most of them were of rather large size as compared with those taken 

 by the flicker and other ground-feeding birds. One stomach, how- 

 ever, contained approximately 1,000 small individuals. Another con- 

 tained between 300 and 400 of the ant Solenopsis molesta, a small 

 species. Hymenoptera other than ants (12.82 per cent) were found 

 in 254 stomachs and are evidently a favorite food of this swallow. 

 Besides the common bees and wasps were many parasitic forms. One 

 male, or drone, honey bee was found. 



Hemiptera formed 15.1 per cent and from the regularity with 

 which they occur in the food are evidently very palatable. They were 

 found in 192 stomachs, and 16 families were identified. Of these the 

 most important are the Pentatomidae, or stinkbugs; Jassidse, or leaf 

 hoppers, of which one stomach was estimated to contain at least 

 1,000; Capsidse, or leaf bugs, contained in 48 stomachs; Aphididse, or 

 plant lice; and Lygseidse, which are represented by the notorious 

 chinch bug {Blissus leucopterus) , found in 7 stomachs. This last 

 pest is too well known to require comment. It is well to know its 

 enemies. 



Diptera are evidently the choice food of the barn swallow. They 

 average 39.49 per cent of the food, or more than twice that of any 

 other order of insect, and nearly two-fifths of the whole. They were 

 contained in 338 stomachs, or nearly three-fourths of all, an.d 33 con- 

 tained no other food. In March they constitute 82 per cent of the 

 food, and in September, the month of least consumption, nearly 18 

 per cent. These insects are mostly allied to the common house fly, 

 and were identified in 110 stomachs, but several other families are 

 represented. Among them are the long-legged craneflies (Tipulidse), 

 a number of horseflies (Tabanidse), and several robberflie's (Asilidse), 

 which prey upon other insects and are said to be very destructive to 

 honey bees. The consumption of flies by the barn swallow is, to say 

 the least, interesting. It is greater than that of any of the flycatchers 

 (Tyrannidse) except one and is exceeded by only two other species 

 of swallows. Only such birds as are very active on the wing can 

 catch many flies. Thrushes and blackbirds get a few, but as a rule 

 these are only the craneflies, which move sluggishly and breed in 

 colonies where birds can easily reach them. 



Lepidoptera are evidently not greatly relished by the barn swallow. 

 The adult insects can hardly be considered a favorite food for any 

 species of bird, as most of the lepidopterous food is eaten in the larval 



