THE CEOW AND ITS BELATION TO MAN. 67 



. (Zapus hudsonius) in one. and a ground squirrel {Citellus tridecirn- 

 lineatus) in another. Short-tailed shrews (Blarina brevicauda) (in 

 two stomachs) and bats (in two stomachs) also were eaten by nest- 

 ling crows. 



A consideration of the economic aspects of the carnivorous habits 

 of the crow in relation to mammals is presented on pages 38-40. 



Carrion formed 3.95 per cent of the food of the nestling crows 

 examined, as compared with 2.13 per cent for the adults during 

 approximately the same period (see Table II). As it is frequently 

 impossible to determine with absolute certainty the character of 

 animal food, the proportion may be subject to revision. Remains of 

 rabbits, chickens, and parts of larger carcasses have been included 

 under this head. 



Vegetable Food. 



Of the vegetable food of the nestling crow, which formed 16.53 

 per cent of the diet, corn is the most important item. Some farmers 

 have considered that the depredations on this grain in sprouting time 

 are due largely to the nestlings' desire for the soft, germinating 

 kernel, but stomach analysis has disproved this. Corn was found 

 to constitute 11.91 per cent of the young crow's food, a third of the 

 proportion taken by the adult during approximately the same time. 

 The frequency with which these young birds eat this grain, however, 

 gives the impression that their capabilities in this direction are more 

 nearly akin to those of their parents. Of the 778 nestling crows ex- 

 amined, 354 (45.5 per cent) had fed on corn, as compared with 824 

 (61.49 per cent) of the 1,340 adults. 



The limited quantities of corn consumed by the nestlings can better 

 be appreciated when it is considered only 68 of the 778 had subsisted 

 on it to the extent of more than half their food. Almost invariably 

 the stomachs containing large quantities were those of nearly fledged 

 birds, the character of whose food habits was rapidly approaching 

 that of the adults. Corn eaten by nestlings less than a week old is 

 practically negligible in quantity. 



SMALL GRAINS. 



Grain other than corn forms a small portion of the food of the 

 nestling crow, but additional material collected in the Northwest may 

 reveal greater activities along this line. Only 7 of the 778 nestlings 

 had fed on wheat, 11 on oats, and 4 on buckwheat. 



