26 FOOD OF SOME WELL-KNOWN BIRDS. 



States and probably give a fair idea of the annual food of the 

 " chippy." In the first anah^sis the food divides into 38 per cent of 

 animal to 62 per cent of vegetable matter. Specimens from the 

 Avest coast give a higher percentage of animal matter. From Cali- 

 fornia 90 stomachs gave 45 per cent of animal food to 55 per cent 

 of vegetable. In June the animal food rises as high as 93 per cent 

 of the Avhole. 



Beetles amount to 11 per cent of the food and consist of various 

 families. In one stomach were found the remains of 30 snout beetles 

 or weevils. Hymenoptera aggregate 11.8 per cent and in June at- 

 tain to 67.5 per cent. They are represented mostly by ants, with a 

 few wasps. Hemiptera (bugs) are eaten to an average extent of 

 7.5 per cent. They consist of stink bugs, leaflioppers, plant lice, 

 and scales. Of the latter the black olive scale {Saissetia olece) was 

 noted. Diptera (flies) do not seem to be a favorite food with the 

 chipiaing sparrow. The aggregate per month is only 3 per cent. 

 Caterpillars are evidently the favorite animal food, as they were 

 eaten to an average extent of 14.2 per cent, or more than any other 

 insect. They are eaten in every month and in May attain to 43.25 

 per cent of the food. Two stomachs contained pupse of the codling 

 moth. Grasshoppers appear in one stomach and, with a few spiders 

 i;nd some bits of eggshells, make up the remainder of the animal 

 food. 



Vegetable food. — Grain in the shape of oats constitutes about 4 

 per cent of the food of the eastern "chippies," but only 1 per cent 

 for the western ones. In either, the amount is insignificant and is 

 probably all waste grain. A mere trace of fruit was found in one 

 stomach taken in June. Weed seed is eaten in every month of the 

 year and amounts to 53 per cent of the year's food, In September it 

 rises to 98 per cent, is but a little less in August, and practically 

 keeps up to that mark till insects appear in the spring. 



Summary. — This brief review of the food of the chipping sparrow 

 emphasizes and confirms what almost everybody knew before — that 

 the food habits are all good; that the bird does not attack any pro- 

 duct of husbandry and does destroy many harmful insects. The 

 bird is well worthy of the welcome and protection which it every- 

 where receives. — F. E. L. B. 



JUNCO OR SNOWBIRD. 



(Jiiiico Injriiiiiliti.) 



The junco or snowbird (fig. 12) is known as a breeding bird irl the 

 United States only near the northern border and elsewhere in the 

 mountains. In fall it migrates southward and spreads over the whole 

 country, where it remains during the winter, so that in most places 

 it is known as a Avinter species. In the investigation of its food more 



506 



