120 



the food, whether animal or vegetable, is given in bulk per- 

 centages and is followed by a list of the seeds or insects identi- 

 fied. Reference has already been made in a general way to the 

 food at the different seasons, but it will now be taken up in 

 greater detail. 



Food during the Spring Migration. — Although this period is, 

 in reality, not complete until nearly the middle of June, when 

 the last immature females arrive, it will be considered in the 

 present connection as extending only up to the time of mating, 

 which is about the 20th of April. As before stated, the food 

 at this season is secured largely upon the uplands, and is very 

 different from that secured in the marsh. The data given in 

 the table include more than a fair average of birds which have 

 been feeding in the marsh, and therefore the two types of 

 food will be taken up separately. Under the title of '^food 

 secured in the marsh'' will be included that of the resident 

 birds up to the time of mating, as well as that of the migrants. 



Food Secured on the Uplands. — By far the greater part of this 

 food is vegetable, ranging between 90 and 100 per cent in 

 nearly half of the stomachs examined. Some birds, however, 

 find sufficient insect life on the hills to bring down the average 

 for the 18 stomachs examined to 66 per cent of vegetable food. 

 Of this, the seeds of foxtail grass (Setaria glauca) and of rag- 

 weed {Ambrosia artemiscefolia) constitute the largest part, 

 with a trace of grain (corn and rye) next. In the crop and 

 stomach of one female were 816 seeds of foxtail grass, and in 

 two others, 1,500 of the same seeds. In the 34 per cent of 

 insect food, lepidopterous larvae predominate, with Caribidae 

 (ground beetles) and their larvae next, and centipedes, grass- 

 hoppers, and miscellaneous Coleoptera following (Plate XVIII, 

 fig. 1). 



Food Secured in the Marsh. — As before stated, the marsh at 

 this time of the year is flooded and vegetable food is scarce. 

 The seeds of strictly marsh plants are not available for various 

 reasons, and all that are secured must be picked from the 

 marsh border. Here are found sufficient seeds of cut-grass 

 (Leerzia) and the like to bring up the total to 19 per cent. 

 Thirteen out of the 20 birds examined, however, had secured 



