APPENDIX II. AUGHEY ON LOCUST-FEEDING BIRDS. [33] 



Cyanospiza cyanea, (Linn.) Bd. 

 Indigo-hird. 

 Rare in Nebraska. A specimen sent to mo to identify from Beatrice, Nebr., in 

 the extreme southern part of the State, had 10 locusts in its stomach and a largo num- 

 ber of seeds. This was in June, 1875. Another, obtained a, little later from Columbus 

 on the Platte, had only one locust in its stomach, but 8 small beetles. Seeds 

 numerous^ 



Cardinalis virginianus, (Briss.) Bp. 



Cardinal GrosheaJc ; Virginian Redhird. 



Abundant in Southern Nebraska, where it breeds. It also varies its diet with locusts 

 when it can obtain them. 



Locality. 



Date. 



Insects in 

 the stomach. 



Harlan County. Nebraska 



Eichardson County, Xebraska , 



do 



do 



AuR. — , 1874 

 Sept. — , 1874 



do 



.... do 



22. ^ locusts. 

 S;4, 1 locusts. 

 20, ^ locusts. 

 22, J locusts. 



PiPiLO ERYTHROPHTHALMUS, (Linn.) Vieill. 



Ground Robin; Marsh Rohin ; TotvJiee Bunting ; CheicinTc. 



Large numbers pass through Northern Nebraska on their migrations. A few stop to 

 breed. In May and June, 1885, I examined four of these birds. Three of the four had 

 locusts in their stomachs, averaging 11, besides a few beetles and a large number of 



Family ICTERID^E : American Starlings. 



DoLiCHONYX ORYZivoRUS, (Linn.) Sw. 



Bobolink; Reed-bird; Rice-bird, 



Very abundant in Nebraska, where it breeds. It is reputed to be wholly granivo- 

 rous, especially when it frequents the swamps of the South and becomes the rice-bird. 

 That it is sometimes slightly insectivorous, I have seen in a great many of my exami- 

 nations of this bird. The following are examples: 



Time. 



Dakota County, Nebraska ... 



do 



do 



Lsincaster County, Nebraska 



.- do 



do 



Date. 



May 30, 1866 

 June .5,1866 

 June 15, 1866 

 May 30, 1875 

 June 12, 1875 

 do 



Insects 

 in the 

 stomach. 



21 



18 



16 



12 locusts 

 14 locusts 

 17 locusts 



Seeds in 

 stomach. 



Many seeds. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



do. 



MOLOTHRUS ATER, (Bodd.) Gray. 



Cow-bird ; Coiv-blackbird. 



This bird is unfortunately abundant in Nebraska, and every one who hunts birds' 

 nests in June will find its eggs dropped into some other nest. In addition to being- 

 parasitic, it is polygamous. Its only good trait is that it is highly insectivorous. Dur- 

 ing locust years, it is found to feed largely on this insect as well as the flies andlarvie 

 of flies that pester castle. Hon. J. Sterling Morton says that it eats grubs out of the 

 backs of lean cattle in spring. 



Agel^us phcexiceus, (Linn.) Vieill. 

 Red-ivinged Blaclcbird 

 Common along water-courses in Nebraska. This supposed granivorous bird varies; 

 his diet quite extensively with insect food. In the spring of 1875, on the road from. 



[3G] 



