16 BIRDS THAT EAT THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



CONDITIONS OF BIRD LIFE IN THE SUMMER OF 1905. 



Birds were abundant at only two localities visited in the summer of 

 1905. At three localities they were moderately numerous, while at 

 five localities they were very scarce. During the month of July, 

 which includes the last part of the breeding season of most species, 

 they were scarce at all localities visited. At Gurley, Texas, on July 20, 

 a count was made of all the birds seen to visit a large cotton field in 

 the river bottom, bordered on two sides with woods and thickets. 

 Forty individuals of 10 species were noted in about six hours in the 

 area under observation, which included about 100 acres. This result 

 is fairly typical of conditions prevailing in other localities visited 

 during the same month, except in regions where the presence of cot- 

 ton worms offered an especially attractive food supply. 



The greater part of August and September was spent at two locali- 

 ties in the arid mesquite belt of Texas — Beeville and Eunge — and 

 here birds, both resident species and migrants, proved to be abun- 

 dant. Between September 23 and October 20 a number of different 

 localities were visited, from Medina County on the west to Waller and 

 Grimes counties on the east, and at every place a marked scarcity of 

 bird life in and about the cotton fields was noted. Peculiarities in 

 the distribution of the food supply, not as yet well understood, proba- 

 bly account in a measure for this scarcity. The tendency of certain 

 species of birds after the breeding season to wander in search of food is 

 quite pronounced. This habit is well illustrated by observations on 

 the varying abundance of cuckoos, mentioned later. 



SUMMARY or OBSEBVATIONS IN 1905. 



Cuero, July 6-7. — At this time the cotton plants were in fine con- 

 dition, 3 to 4 feet high and full of blossoms and bolls. Weevils were 

 very scarce, some fields being moderately infested and others not at 

 all. No adult weevils could be found, and the average number of 

 larvae in fallen squares was about 12 to every 100 hills. 



Birds were not abundant, and practically the only species seen feed- 

 ing among the cotton plants was the orchard oriole. Of this species 

 only one small flock was seen, and but one of those taken had eaten a 

 boll weevil. 



Gurley, July 10-22. — Cotton was in about the same condition here 

 as at Cuero the previous week, perhaps a little less advanced. 



WeevOs were more abundant than at Cuero, though it was practi- 

 cally impossible to find adults. Forty hills in the worst infested fields 

 were carefully searched without finding a single individual. Exami- 

 nation of all the fallen squares under 20 hills produced 34 larvae 4 

 of which were dead. 



Birds were fairly common, and the following species were seen in the 

 cotton fields: Quail, downy woodpecker, scissor-tailed flycatcher. 



