ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE STARLING. 33 



tively. A resident of Rochelle Park, N. J., who is well acquainted 

 with the starling, asserted that for several years past these birds 

 had taken toll from his fields. Others also have seen the starlings,, 

 while part of a mixed flock, actually feeding on the ears of corn. 



Damage to field corn was reported less frequently than to sweet 

 corn, and the reports were subject to the same errors of identification 

 of birds. On one farm west of West Caldwell, N. J., the starling was 

 bitterly criticized for its work on a 2 to 3 acre patch. Some time, 

 was spent observing the bird visitants to this field, and it was found 

 that English sparrows were busily engaged in tearing down the 

 husks for an inch or two, as far as their strength allowed, and eating 

 the terminal kernels. 



In the vicinity of Freehold, N. J., where a large starling-grackle 

 roost was located, flocks of starlings were common about the middle 

 of September in the near-by cornfields. Many of the birds would 

 perch on the top of the cornstalks and sing, fully as many would 

 be on the ground apparently in search of insects, and a few could 

 be noted pecking the ends of the ears. One field of several acres 

 appeared to be a favorite resort, and earlier in the year, when the 

 corn was in the milk, damage had been done there. The proprietor 

 asserted that early in August, when most of the corn was dam- 

 aged, starlings in a large flock visited his field twice daily, morning 

 and evening. A count in part of the field showed that of the 522 

 ears examined 136, or more than 26 per cent, had been visited by 

 birds. Over half the opened ears, however, showed the unmistak- 

 able track of the corn worm. It is highly probable that the birds 

 often devoured the insects they exposed in tearing down the husk. 

 Another field, northwest of Freehold, which was visited by large 

 flocks of starlings in early morning and late afternoon, was carefully 

 inspected, and very little bird work was found, but a heavy infesta- 

 tion of corn worms had severely damaged the crop. 



A comparison of the food habits of the starlings and grackles 

 occupying the Freehold roost in September was obtained from the 

 examination of material coUected there. Six of the 116 starlings 

 had fed on corn, and in the stomach of one, this grain formed 94 per 

 cent of the contents, in another 60 per cent, in a third 12 per cent, 

 and in the remaining three only 1 per cent each, making an average 

 percentage of about 1.5 for the lot. Twenty of the 27 grackles shot at 

 the same roost had fed on corn, and in 1 1 this constituted the entire 

 stomach contents. The corn consumed by the 27 grackles formed 

 over 76 per cent of their food. With this was over 11 per cent of 

 other grain, principally oats. 



To a limited extent starlings were accused of pulling sprouting 

 corn, both sweet and field varieties. At Mendham, N. J., it was 

 182334°— 21 5 



