54 BULLETIN" 621, TJ. S, DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



of seed distribution, a discussion of which is presented on pages 

 68 to 71. The bay berry {Myrica carolinensis) and the wax myr- 

 tle {M. cerlfera) furnish subsistence for many crows along the Atlan- 

 tic coast, and in the southern part of this region the greenbrier 

 (Smilax spp.), grapes (Vitis spp.), the Virginia creeper {Partheno- 

 cissus quinque folia) , sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and dogwoods 

 (especially Cornus florida) are important food items. Wild cherries 

 (especially Primus serotina and P. virginiana) and plums present 

 in 62 stomachs, strawberries in 50, and mulberries, blackberries, and 

 raspberries in a fewer number were eaten during the rather brief 

 fruiting seasons of these plants. The Juneberry (Amelanchier spp.) 

 is a favorite food of the crows inhabiting parts of the northwest 

 coast, though there are numerous records of such feeding in other 

 regions as well. Blueberries (V actinium spp.) and elderberries 

 {Sambucus spp.) must also be classed among the more important 

 wild fruits upon which crows feed. Seeds of the following trees 

 and shrubs also were taken from stomachs: Red cedar (Juniperus 

 virginiana), beech {Fagus americana), hackberry {Celtis sp.), bar- 

 berry (Berberis sp.), currants {Ribes sp.), haw (Crataegus sp.), holly 

 {Ilex opaca), supple-jack {Berchemia scandens), buffaloberry {Lep- 

 argyrea spp,), and huckleberry (Gdylussacia sp.). 



The mere consumption of wild fruit by the crow involves nothing 

 of economic importance, since practically none of the embryos of the 

 seeds are thus destroyed; but the fact that the crow*, for that very 

 reason, becomes an important distributor of certain noxious plants, 

 necessitates a careful consideration of the bird's capabilities in this 

 respect. (See pp. 68-71.) 



GEASS AND WEED SEEDS. 



Plants popularly classed as weeds are affected in no appreciable 

 way by the seed-eating habits of the crow. Weed seeds formed only 

 1.36 per cent of the annual food of the 1,340 adult crows examined. 

 That the percentage is even this high is explained by the fact that 

 in February, when only 69 stomachs were available, several were 

 practically filled with vegetable debris associated with a few weed 

 seeds, all of which was classed under this head. This material would 

 probably have been better designated as rubbish picked up unin- 

 tentionally with carrion upon which also these birds were feeding. 

 Thus interpreted, the weed seeds eaten would scarcely exceed half 

 of 1 per cent of the yearly food. 



Various knot weeds {Polygonum spp.) occur most frequently, 

 and the seeds of the two foxtail grasses {Chcetochloa glauca and 

 C. viridis) scarcely less so. Seeds of ragweed {Ambrosia arte- 

 misicefolia) are liable to be picked up at any time. The minute seeds 

 of pigweed {Amaranthus and Chenop odium), so abundant in waste 

 places, are so small that it is doubtful whether they are ever taken 



