FOOD HABITS OF THRUSHES. 5 



Summary. — With so small an amount of material it is not safe to 

 draw general conclusions, but in the case of Myadestes one point 

 seems clear — the bird's favorite food is small wild fruit, and as long 

 as this is abundant the bird will probably not attack cultivated 

 varieties ; but should any portion of the region occupied by the soli- 

 taire be cleared of its wild fruit and cultivated species be introduced 

 these would likely be preyed upon. Under such conditions this bird, 

 now perfectly harmless, might inflict considerable damage. 



WOOD THRUSH. 



(Hylocichla mustelina.) 



The wood thrush is distributed over the eastern part of the United 

 States wherever suitable conditions are found. It is a lover of 

 open groves and bushy pastures, and may be found along little- 

 traveled roads and near low bushy swamps. The bird is noted for 

 its sweet song, and many country people who are well acquainted 

 with its notes know little or nothing of the bird itself. Its favorite 

 time for singing is in the early evening at the close of a sultry 

 afternoon when a shower has cooled the air. As a rule, it does not 

 nest in gardens or orchards and is seldom seen about farm buildings. 

 It is strictly migratory, and the greater number pass out of the 

 United States in winter, though a few remain in the Southern States. 

 It usually migrates north in April or early May. 



For the investigation of the food habits of the wood thrush 171 

 stomachs were available. One of these was collected in Florida in 

 January and another in Alabama in February, and these two will 

 be treated separately. The remaining 169 were collected from April 

 to October, and are fairly well distributed over that time. The food 

 consisted of 59.59 per cent of animal matter to 40.41 per cent of 

 vegetable. The greatest quantity of animal food was eaten in April, 

 the month of arrival from the south, and the least in October, the 

 month of the return migration. 



Animal food. — Beetles, collectively (20.40 per cent), constitute the 

 largest item of animal food. Of these, 2.23 per cent are the preda- 

 cious ground beetles (Carabidse), generally considered useful. The 

 remainder belong to several more or less harmful families, of which 

 the May-beetle family (Scarabseidse) amount to 10.17 per cent. Snout 

 beetles, or weevils (Ehynchophora) , are eaten to the extent of 2.16 

 per cent only, and the wood-boring chick-beetles (Elateridse) to 2.13 

 per cent. 



Among the various species of these insects were noted the remains 

 of the well-known Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemline- 

 ata) , in two stomachs, and Goptocycla signifera, also injurious to the 

 potato, in one stomach. Remains of Otiorhynchus ovatus, a weevil 



