SPECIES. 



93 



In smaller numbers the birds had eaten flying ants, parasitic wasps, 

 and other wasps, bugs, caddis-flies, and spiders. One had tasted 

 blackberries. 



Four gi'eat crested flycatchers were collected in May. Their stomachs 

 contained May -flies, ants ( Oanij)onottu^pemh'iylvani<nis and other forms), 

 parasitic wasps (Ichneumonidro, Scoliidse {Tqjhia) and Evaniidse), bugs 

 [Euschistns dM^L Nesara liilar'iii)^ and beetles (Curculionidse, Elateridee, 

 Cicindela sexguttata, Dlcerca, and Odontota dorsalis). Despite their 







i 





«.. 



Fig. 33.— Phcebe. 



taste for parasitic wasps both phcebe and great crested flj'catcher are in 

 the main useful on account of the large number of insect pests they 

 destroy. 



HORNED LARKS. 



When the horned lark {Otocoris alpestris) occurred at, Marshall 

 Hall, as it did occasionally in severe winter weather, it subsisted almost 

 entirely on seeds, largely weed seeds, often with waste grain. A bird 

 collected during the severe blizzard of February, 1900, was feeding in 

 a wind-swept cowyard, where it secured a bit of a kernel of corn, 4 

 seeds of lamb's-quarters, 8 of crab-grass, 10 of bastard pennyroyal, 

 and 12 of ragweed. 



BLUE JAYS AND CROWS. 



Six blue jaj's {Cyanocitta crlstata, fig. 34) were collected in Majr 

 and November. All except one had taken insects. Beetles were the 

 most important element and comprised Chlmnius s&stivus, LacJinosteTna, 



