56 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. IV. 



which may be considered beneficial, and that it also surpasses the 

 number of beneficial and innoxious species combined. 



The facts on the whole overwhelmingly speak in favour of the 

 Crow, and taken alone would be at variance with the prevalent 

 opinion hitherto held, and yet held, regarding the economic status 

 of the Crow as an insectivorous bird. 



How far these general conclusions may be modified by the 

 indirect nature of the food examined, ze., by the habit of the Crow 

 of feeding upon toads and frogs and even small birds and other 

 insectivorous animals, I am in no position to determine. It is pro- 

 bable, however, that only a small proportion of the insect food of 

 the Crow is derived in this indirect manner, and that in so far the 

 conclusions as to its economic status are not to be modified. 



A complete list of the insects contained in each one of the six 

 hundred or more stomachs critically examined would not only make 

 the present bulletin too bulky, but the constant repetition of names 

 would only mislead and bewilder the reader, if indeed any enthusiast 

 would care to read it all. It is better, therefore, to omit the detailed 

 statement of the insect remains found in each stomach and give only 

 the general results. 



Testimony from correspondents respecting the insect food 



of the Crow. 



During the past ten years the Division of Ornithology hap 

 received statements from more than a thousand observers respecting 

 the food habits of the Crow. So far as the insect food is concernedj 

 most of these statements are of little value, because from the nature 

 of the case it was impossible to tell what species of insects were 

 eaten. Aside from such sweeping and groundless assertions as 

 "Crows eat no insects at all " and "Crows eat insects of all kinds" 

 scores of statements were received which were obviously incorrect, 

 although evidently made with perfect sincerity. On the other hand, 

 it is of interest to note how fully many of the more explicit statements 

 are confirmed by the examination of stomachs. For example, the 

 habit of catching grasshoppers was observed and reported by many 

 correspondents, and the same is true of the M^y beetle or June 

 beetle {Lachnosterna) and its larva, the white grub. The Crow's 

 habit of following the plow was noticed more than a hundred years 

 ago, and the principal error made by many of our correspondents 

 lies in the assumption that the bird devours indiscriminately all the 

 different insects thus exposed. Among the most common mistakes 



