THE CROW AJSTD ITS RELATION TO MAN. 15 



their work unmolested. Among the most important of these is the 

 crow. Before condemning these birds when found feeding in corn- 

 fields and grass lands, especially during the breeding season, it will 

 be well to investigate the reason for their presence. The " corn- 

 pulling" crow frequently has his gizzard filled with the insect ene- 

 mies of this grain, a fact learned, often with considerable surprise, 

 by many a farmer who, though skeptical, has been induced to open 

 and observe the stomach of one of these birds shot in the cornfield. 



The carrot beetle (Ligyrus gibbosus) and others of the same genus 

 are eaten in considerable numbers. In contrast to May beetles, these 

 insects inflict the greatest damage when in the adult stage, their 

 larvae feeding merely on decaying vegetation. Four crows collected 

 in Dallas County, Mo., had secured 22, 21, 18, and 15 carrot beetles, 

 respectively, and in several other cases these insects constituted over 

 half the stomach contents. A closely related beetle (Dyseinetus 

 traohypygus) , found in wet situations, was eaten on several occa- 

 sions. A particularly interesting case was that of a crow shot near 

 the surf on Wallops Island, Va., which had eaten §6 of these beetles. 

 Apparently the insects were present in great numbers (possibly dead 

 ones washed in by the surf), as this bird, ignoring the harder parts, 

 satisfied his appetite by merely snipping off the soft abdomens. No 

 heads, thoraces, nor front legs, and only one wing cover, and a few 

 middle legs were found. The hind legs and abdomens present fur- 

 uished the evidence of the number eaten. 



When opportunity presents itself, June bugs (Cotinis nitida) are 

 taken freely by the adult crow, though the number of actual records 

 of such work is not large. At least 20 were found in the stomach of 

 one crow collected in Virginia in July. Another had eaten 19, and 

 a third, 17. Euphorias, destructive beetles with habits similar to 

 those of June bugs, are captured more frequently. The Indian 

 euphoria {Euphoria inda) occasionally injurious to ripening fruits, 

 especially peaches and pears, was fed to nestlings on numerous occa- 

 sions, but the most noteworthy record among adult birds was that of 

 one collected in Massachusetts in May, which had eaten 9. Two other 

 species, E. fulgida and E. sepulchralis, also were identified. Vine- 

 chafers, members of the genus Anomala, occurred in a number of 

 stomachs, 20 individuals being found in one. Other phytophagous 

 scarabseids were found, but in no case were insects of economic im- 

 portance eaten in large numbers. Among these may be mentioned 

 the goldsmith beetle (Cotalpa lanigera), the spotted vine-chafer 

 (Pelidnota punctata), and the hermit flower-beetle {Osmoderma 

 eremicola) . 



The dung-inhabiting scarabseids (Laparosticti) are common items 

 of the crow's diet. The bird's habit of turning over and searching 

 under cow dung brings him in intimate contact with small dung 



