FOOD OF NESTLINGS. 



47 



a colony in the face of the river bluff. They were probably the prog-- 

 eny of the swallows that frequently circled over the farm. The food 

 of the nestlings and that of adults collected during the nesting season 

 is shown in diagrams (PI. IX, fig. 2). 



Purple martins, which came from a colony of somewhat more than 

 a dozen pairs nesting in boxes on poles at Bryan's Point, a mile above 

 the house, were often seen circling about the farm. On June 28, 1902, 

 I visited the colony and found the ]parent birds feeding the young sol- 

 dier bugs, ants, fig-eaters (Allorldna n'ltida), and dragon-flies {Lihellula 

 and Agrionidse). 



Fig. 16.— Barn swallow. 



Three young downy woodpeckers which were collected May 28, 

 1896, had fed principally on ants, but had also eaten spiders, ground 

 beetles, and caterpillars. 



Catbird. — The difference between the food of adults and young 

 belonging to a highly frugivorous species is well illustrated in the 

 case of the catbird, and is shown in diagrams (PI. IX, fig. 3), which 

 were made principally from results obtained at Marshall Hall. 



Crow and Crow Blackbird. — Such granivorous birds as crows and 

 crow blackbirds feed their young mainly insects. Sufiicient material 



