206 YEARBOOK OF THE U. §. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
On one oceasion a basin of water was placed in the cage contain- 
ing several Carabids (Harpalus caliyinosus and H. pennsylvanicus), 
one Cerambycid (Typocerus sinuatus), one potato beetle (Doryphora 
10-lineatu), another Chrysomelid (Chrysochrus ‘awratus), one black 
cricket, one large hairy caterpillar, and a large milleped (Julus). 
The milleped was taken first, the Carabids next, and finally all the 
insects were eaten except the Chrysomelids and the cricket. 
Very large hard beetles, like Alaws oculatus, Hydrophilus triangu- 
laris, and Passalus cornutus, were not often touched, but in default of 
other insects were torn to pieces and the soft parts separated from the 
harder portions. Stink bugs (Pentatomids) seemed to be relished, but 
hairy caterpillars were only taken after most of the hair had been 
beaten off. Cocoons of a tussock moth were torn open to get the 
pupz, and the large green warty caterpillars of the Ailanthus moth 
were eaten, but with no great relish. In several cases spiders were 
selected in preference to insects. Myriapods and earthworms were 
eaten less readily than sow bugs (Onvzscus). 
The bird would eat corn and sprouted acorns, but did not seem to 
care much for them. It ate apples, blackberries, and black raspber- 
ries, but rejected red raspberries, strawberries, mulberries, and elder- 
berries; it swallowed the pulp of grapes only after removing the skin 
and seeds, and also ate a little peach pulp, but without great relish. 
SUMMARY. 
The most striking point in the study of the food of the blue jay is 
the discrepancy between the testimony of field observers concerning | 
the bird’s nest-robbing proclivities and the results of stomach exami- ° 
nations. The accusations of eating eggs and young birds are certainly 
not sustained, and it is futile to attempt to reconcile the conflicting 
statements on this point, which must be left until more accurate obser- 
vations have been made. In destroying insects the jay undoubtedly 
does much good. Most of the predaceous beetles which it eats do not 
feed on other insects to any great extent. On the other hand, it de- 
stroys some grasshoppers and caterpillars and many noxious beetles, 
such as Scarabeeids, click beetles (Elaterids), weevils (Curculionids), 
Buprestids, Chrysomelids, and Tenebrionids. The blue jay gathers 
its fruit from nature’s orchard and vineyard, not from man’s; corn 
is the only vegetable food for which the farmer suffers any loss, and 
here the damage is small. In fact, the examination of nearly 300. 
stomachs shows that the blue jay certainly does far more good than 
harm. 
