THE CROW AND ITS RELATION" TO MAN". 23 



. In a recent report, J. T. Zimmer of the Department of Entomology 

 of the University of Nebraska states : 



Crows materially reduced numbers of the fall army worm (Laphygma frugi- 

 perda) during the fall of 1911 in southeastern Nebraska. These birds were then 

 migrating and more common than at other seasons. This insect was quite in- 

 jurious in winter wheat fields during the season mentioned in this part of the 

 State. 



In Massachusetts, where the gipsy and brown-tail moths have de- 

 foliated extensive areas of woodland and have caused great expense 

 both to State and National Governments, crows have done good work. 



In this connection Charles E. Bailey, as assistant to Mr. Forbush, 

 reports 1 that — 



a brood of crows (four young and two old birds) came * * * at 8 o'clock and 

 stayed until almost 9. * * * They would go to a cluster of pupae and 

 caterpillars and eat some, but drop more than they ate. I think they took more 

 pupae than caterpillars * * *. The young birds took many more than the old ones. 

 * * * I think the six crows took 200 pupae while in sight. Some of the time 

 they took them as fast as a hen would pick them up. 



O. E. Bremner, a horticultural inspector for the State of Califor- 

 nia, in a letter to the Biological Survey, reports that — 



in the spring of 1905 a species of climbing cutworm attacked the vineyards in 

 Sonoma County on low land along the Russian River and before we had a 

 chance to do anything, had stripped 10 acres or more of every vestige of green, 

 even the stems and buds, back to the old wood. When I arrived on the scene, 

 where thousands of the worms were being destroyed by hand picking, I found 

 large numbers of crows assembled and busily engaged in hunting out the 

 fat worms. There has not been a repetition of the attack since and I attribute 

 this, at least partly, to the crows. 



Hemiptera (bugs, including cicadas, leaf -hoppers, stinkbugs, squash bugs, etc.). 



Bugs of various kinds form less than 1 per cent (0.63) of the 

 annual food of the crow. August is the month of greatest consump- 

 tion, with 2.92 per cent, and June is next, with 1.75. Of the two 

 orders into which these insects are divided, Homoptera and Heterop- 

 tera, the latter is better represented. This may be due to the small 

 size of many of the homopterans and to the fact that compara- 

 tively few are strictly terrestrial. Evidence secured from the 

 stomachs examined, however, shows that the periodical cicada ( Tibi- 

 cen septendecim) may at times enter strongly into the diet, especially 

 of nestling birds (see p. 61). A series of stomachs of both old and 

 young crows was collected in May, 1913, at Onaga, Kans., at a time 

 just prior to the emergence of a brood of these insects. The birds fed 

 upon them ravenously, most of those eaten being in the last pupal 

 stage and probably dug out from their retreats not far below the 

 surface of the ground. 



1 Forbush, E. H., Useful Birds and Their Protection, p. 129, 1907. 



