14 BULLETIN 621, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



cent of the food. One from Kansas secured at the end of April had 

 made away with 17 grubs and 3 adults; and another, collected in 

 North Carolina in January, gave evidence that in warmer climates 

 where they do not burrow deeply in winter, these larvae are preyed 

 on the year round. This bird had eaten 17. 



The stomachs examined show conclusively that the crow is a most 

 effective enemy of the May beetle, especially in the adult form. 

 Field observations have verified this conclusion repeatedly and have 

 furnished many striking instances of the value of this bird during 

 outbreaks of the insects. 



Norman Griddle, of Aweme, Manitoba, who has observed the 

 habits of these birds for many years in the Northwest, stated in a 

 letter to the Biological Survey that crows — 



have also been observed here to collect practically every white grub [Phyllo- 

 pliaga sp.] thrown up by the plow on fields covering many acres. (1911.) 



Benj. F. Gault, of Glenellyn, 111., reports: 



Grass plots, both lawn and timothy, infested by these pests, I have known, 

 on two marked occasions, to have been gone at most rigorously by them, the 

 sod being torn up yards square in extent as thoroughly almost as though a pack 

 of hogs had undertaken to do the work instead. (1912.) 



H. W. Tinkham, of Fall River, Mass., in reporting his observa- 

 tions, presents evidence to show a source of supply of which the crow 

 may take advantage : 



One crow picked up 47 May beetles on Sunday morning in the street in front 

 of my house, and, as I had a powerful glass on him, I was much interested in 

 his method. He would break the wing covers off, and, I think, the head, then 

 gather a few, say four to six, into a pile, take two or three into the back 

 part of the mouth and run his bill like a skewer through the balance. He made 

 several trips to gather the 47—1 think 8. (1901.) 



Many species of these beetles are attracted at night to lights along 

 roadways, fall to the hard pavements, and are unable to hide at the 

 approach of daylight. Others may drop to the ground from the 

 foliage of overhanging trees where they had been feeding during the 

 night. Many also fall into the water of lakes and streams, where 

 they are drowned, washed ashore, and there picked up by the crow : 

 and still others, having bred, die from one cause or other, and may 

 be found almost anywhere. Some of the May beetles in the stomachs 

 of crows doubtless were dead when picked up, and in feeding on them 

 no particular service was rendered, but enough is known of the meth- 

 ods pursued by these birds in their search for food to demonstrate 

 that it is the living beetle, hid under sticks, stones, and clods of 

 earth for which they search. 



In view of the fact that white grubs frequently inflict serious 

 damage on crops in spite of most vigorous efforts to control them, it 

 is important that all their natural enemies be permitted to continue 



