THE COWBIRD. DF. 
other substances are also eaten, but they are mostly of the same gen- 
eral character, such as hard seeds of grasses or weeds, with but little 
indication of fruit pulp or other soft vegetable matter. The following 
table shows the various grains and seeds identified, with the number 
of stomachs in which they were contained: 
Vegetable substances found in stomachs of cowbirds. 
Grain: Stomachs. | Weeds—Continued. Stomachs. 
COT. costo tie owes ede 56 Pennyroyal (Trichostema dicho- 
WHEE ons ve teva neler see weik 20 LONI) lose he cen csteeeceis 2 
Oats s.2'i's sarcaewntend acisieacis 102 Mouse-ear chickweed  (Ceras- 
Buckwheats.<ccccctccws's ediece els 1 UNG a ae miseteist teen setae 2 
Fruit: Plantain (Plantago).....-.-.--- a 
Blueberry ( Vaccinium) ......-. 1 Sunflower (Helianthus)......... 8 
Raspberry (Rubus) .......-.... 4 Gromwell (Lithospermum)...-.. 4 
Forage: Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium 
Clover ( Trifolium).......-.-.-- 8 bermudiana).....---.--..---- 1 
Timothy (Phleum).-..-.------- 8 Barngrass (Chetochloa) ........ 265 
Sorghum (Andropogon sorghum). 2 Panic-grass (Panicum) .....-.--- 133 
Weeds: Joint-grass (Paspalum) ......--- 22 
Ragweed (Ambrosia)..........- 176 Yard-grass (Hleusine indica).... 2 
Knotweed (Polygonum) -.-.-.--- 49 Unidentified (mostly unknown 
Sorrel (Rumer).......--..----- 37 grass seeds) ....-..---..---.- 57 
Thistle (Carduus).......------- 1 | Miscellaneous: 
Amaranth (Amaranthus) --.-.-- 11 Mast: seceGeeaustwecatooe nee es 1 
Mustard (Brassica nigra)...--.- 4 eat gall sc cceccascese yeas oe 2s 2 
Chickweed (Alsine).-....------ 9 Rubbish snceusuusesseeehs veers 5 
Oats are apparently the favorite grain with the cowbird, as they 
were found in 102 stomachs, a record which exceeds the total of those 
containing either wheat or corn. They first appear in March, when 
12.9 per cent are eaten, evidently waste grain picked up in the stubble- 
fields, highways, and barnyards, except in the southern part of the 
country, where sowing may take place as early as this month. Oats 
constitute less than 2 per cent in April, nearly 8 percent in May 
(probably partly made up of grain from newly sown fields), 3.7 in 
June, 25.1 in July, 31.5 in August, 19.4 in September, and after that 
decrease rapidly and reach zero before the Ist of November. The 
average consumption for all the months of the year is 8.6 percent. 
Corn was found in 56 stomachs, but the irregular manner in which it 
is distributed through the food of the year indicates that it is not a 
favored diet. The record for January, which shows a little more than 
33 per cent, is based on only 3 stomachs, and so can not be considered 
very reliable. In any case the corn eaten must have been scattered 
grain, unless it was some that had been left in the shock over winter. 
Even in October, when corn is abundant everywhere, it is scarcely 
touched. Only 1 bird out of 70 taken in that month had eaten any, 
and in this single instance it amounted to only 6 percent of the entire 
food. In the other months the quantity ranges downward to zero, but 
in such an erratic manner as to indicate that it is never sought, but 
merely eaten when found and when better food is not at hand. The 
