THE CROW AND ITS RELATION" TO MAN. 63 



contents. A few other crusteceans similar to those found in the 

 stomachs of adults also were eaten by the young (see p. 26). 



MOLLUSKS AND FISHES. 



Mollusks and fishes constitute an unimportant portion of the food 

 of nestling crows, being negligible both in quantity (0.68 per cent) 

 and in economic significance. Mollusks, most of which were land 

 snails, were found only occasionally. Fish remains occurred more 

 frequently, but it is evident that the consumption of such food is con- 

 trolled largely by local conditions. Young secured in Dallas County, 

 Mo., had eaten more than any others. Each individual of two broods 

 of five and three, respectively, collected there, had fed on fish, which 

 constituted about 17 per cent of the diet. This is the most extensive 

 work of the kind noted among nestlings. 



REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS. 



Eeptiles and amphibians, in about equal portions, comprised 7.04 

 per cent of the food of nestlings. Reptiles occurred in 231 of the 

 778 stomachs, and, as in the case of the adults (see p. 28), snakes 

 made up the bulk. These were found in 140 of the 231 stomachs in 

 which reptiles occurred. A fully fledged young crow secured in 

 Wisconsin had its stomach filled with the vertebrae and other bones 

 of a small snake, and in nine other cases such food formed over 

 three-fourths of the contents. Ofttimes it was apparent that parts of 

 a large snake or turtle had been passed to several members of a 

 brood ; in fact this procedure appeared to be the rule rather than the 

 exception, and a few cases were noted where every member of a fam- 

 ily, old and young, apparently had shared with the others some par- 

 ticularly highly prized morsel. The eastern ring-necked snake (Dia- 

 Sophis pwnctatus) and a blue racer (Zam&nis constrictor) were the 

 only reptiles specifically identified in these stomachs. 



Toads, frogs, and salamanders were present in 208 of the 778 

 stomachs, a much .higher proportion than in stomachs of adults, 

 where only 153 of 1,340 contained such food. In over half of these 

 (110) the remains of frogs (Ranidse) were identified, in 13 there were 

 toads (Bufonidse), and in 53, salamanders. Doubtless additional 

 members of one or another of these groups were among the material 

 which was too far advanced in digestion to be identified other than 

 merely as amphibian. In most instances the feeding was confined to 

 an individual toad or frog, and often parts of the same animal would 

 be passed to one or more of a brood. In fact, this was so frequently 

 the case among nestlings that while amphibians were present in 208 

 stomachs, the actual number of individuals taken was somewhat less. 



