902 YEARBOOK OF THE U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
apparently likes to take its food in large morsels, and as in the case of 
beetles, large larvee, like those of the humming-bird moths (Sphingi- 
de), are selected whenever obtainable. In several cases a single spec- 
imen of these caterpillars more than 2 inches in length and nearly 
as large as one’s finger was snugly coiled up in the stomach, almost 
filling the whole cavity. Eggs of insects were frequent, and those of 
the tent caterpillar moth (Clisiocampa americana) occurred in four 
ceases. Dy. J. A. Allen has found these eggs in blue jay stomachs 
(Auk, XII, Oct., 1895, p. 383), and many years ago Dr. J. P. Kirtland 
called attention to the usefulness of this bird in destroying the larvae 
of the tent caterpillar (Atlantic Monthly, XXV, Apr., 1870, p. 482). 
Many of the smaller species of caterpillars were quite hairy, and 
others rough and warty, showing that this does not render them 
objectionable. Mr. E. Hl. Forbush credits the blue jay with eating 
great numbers of eggs, pups, and larve of the gypsy moth, and ‘he 
observed them carrying away the larvee, which are hairy caterpillars 
of considerable size, apparently to feed their young. (Rept. on Gypsy 
Moth, Mass. Board Agr., 1896, pp. 214, 215.) 
Insects of several other orders were found in nearly every month, 
and in July and August amounted to a little more than 11 per cent. 
Iymenoptera were represented by wasps and a few ants. One stom- 
ach contained a specimen of the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba), a 
very injurious wood-boring insect. Diptera, or flies, were found in 
only three stomachs. Wemiptera were represented by quite a num- 
ber of stink bugs (Pentatomids), a few cicadas, and remains of coceids, 
or bark lice, which were found in two stomachs. Spiders oceur fre- 
quently, myriapods occasionally, and snail shells were found in 
thirty-eight stomachs. 
VEGETABLE FOOD. 
As already stated, three-fourths of the blue jay’s food consists of 
vegetable matter, which may be conveniently arranged in several. 
groups: (1) Grain, mast, and seeds; (2) fruit; and, (3) miscellaneous. 
LIST OF VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES FOUND IN STOMACHS OF THE BLUE JAY. 
Grain and mast.—Corn, wheat, oats, buckwheat, acorns, chestnuts, 
beechnuts, hazelnuts, sumae (his), knotweed (Polygonum), sorrel 
(Rumen), 
Fruit and miscellancous.—Apples, strawberries, currants (Ribes 
rubrum), Mackberrics (Rubis), mulberries (Morus), blueberries ( Vac: 
confi), huckleberries (Gaylussacia), wild cherries (Prunus serotind), 
chokecherrios (Primus virginiana), wild grapes (Vitis cordifolia), serv- 
ice berries (Ainelanchier canadensis), elderberries (Sambucus cand 
densis), sour-gum berries (Nyssa aquatica), hawthorn (Crategus), 
chokeherries (Aronia arbulifolia), pokeberries (Phylolacca decandra), 
oak galls, mushrooms, tubers. 
