ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE STARLING. 19 



Ghlsenius, also insectivorous, and in 36 were the remains of Casnonia 

 pennsylvanica, a curious and easily recognized little carabid. 



By far the greater part of the carabids eaten by the starling are 

 those that are known to be somewhat vegetarian in habits, notably 

 certain members of the genera Harpalus and Anisodadylus. These 

 beetles feed to a considerable extent on grass seeds and pollen and, 

 therefore, can not be classed among the more beneficial carabids. 

 Eight species of Harpalus were identified in the material examined, 

 and in 277 stomachs the identification could be carried down only to 

 the genus. Harpalus caliginosus, the largest member of the group, 

 was identified in 144 stomachs, and H. pennsylvanicus in 79. One 

 hundred and thirty-eight birds had eaten beetles referable to Ani- 

 sodadylus, but these could not be specifically identified. Of the 

 four species of this genus found in starling stomachs, A. rusticus, 

 identified in 65, was the most common. Carabids of the genus Amara, 

 that are to a considerable extent vegetarian in their feeding habits, 

 were eaten by 151 of the starlings examined; Scarites subterraneus 

 was found in 14 stomachs ; and Agonoderus pallipes, which is injurious 

 to sprouting corn, in 3. 



When feeding heavily on carabids, the starling usually secures a 

 number of species. For instance, a bird shot in New Jersey in 

 April, that had made 91 per cent of its meal on carabids, had eaten 



1 Amara, 1 Anisodadylus, 1 Platynus cupripennis, and 1 Agonoderus; 

 while a June bird from the same State had taken 20 Amara penn- 

 sylvanica and at least 2 other carabids, these forming 75 per cent of 

 the stomach contents. A July bird from Connecticut that had made 

 13 per cent of its meal on beetles of this family had varied the menu 

 by taking 2 Pterostichus lucublandus, 1 Bembidium quadrimaculatum, 



2 Harpalus sp., 2 Anisodadylus rusticus, and 1 other carabid. A New 

 Jersey bird taken in the same month had devoured 19 Amara, 3 Ago- 

 noderus, 2 Anisodadylus, 11 Harpalus, and 2 other carabids, which 

 totaled 84 per cent of the food. A Pennsylvania bird collected in 

 August had eaten 1 Harpalus caliginosus, 2 H. pennsylvanicus, 10 H. 

 erythropus, 5 Pterostichus lucublandus, 1 Anisodadylus, and 1 other 

 carabid — items which formed 72 per cent of the stomach contents. 



It must be admitted that in its fondness for terrestrial carabids the 

 starling does some harm by consuming useful forms, but a study of 

 the above data shows that only a small part of- the Carabidse eaten 

 are of the decidedly beneficial species. 



The scarabaeids, or lamellicorn beetles, follow the weevils and 

 carabids in the quantity of food furnished the starling, 2.24 per cent 

 coming from this source. Of these by far the most important are 

 the May beetles (Phyllophaga, adults of the notorious white grubs), 

 which furnish the bulk of the 2.24 per cent. Both adults and larvae 

 are eaten, the former more frequently. No less than 11 species of 



