52 FOOD OF BOBOLINK, BLACKBIRDS, AND GRACKLES. 
brought out, viz: (1) No order of insects is especially sought except 
grasshoppers (Orthoptera), which constitute more than half of the 
animal food; (2) more than $8 percent of the vegetable food consists 
of grain, which is eaten freely at all seasons, even when insects are 
abundant; and (8) seeds of harmful weeds are eaten sparingly. 
In spite of this apparently discreditable record complaints of this 
blackbird have been fewer than of several other species, while, on the 
other hand, some observers speak highly of it. Prof. A. J. Cook, of 
Claremont, Cal., says that he considers it one of the most valuable 
species in that State. So far as shown by field observation and stom- 
ach examination it does not attack fruit, and this is an important point 
in a California bird. Mr. J. F. Ulingsworth, of Ontario, Cal., in a 
paper read before the Pomona Farmers’ Club,‘ speaks of the species 
as a beneficial one that should be protected. It is possible that the 
large amount of grain found in the stomachs consists principally of 
gleanings from the harvested fields, corrals, and other places; but even 
if this be true, a bird with such a pronounced taste for grain would, if 
abundant, always be a menace to ripening crops. The following tabu- 
lar statement shows the principal elements of the food: 
vod of Brewer's blackbird. 
[NUMBER-OF STOMACHS EXAMINED: January,7; February,7; March,4; April, no stomachs collected, 
May, 7; June, 10; July, 10; August, 21, September, 38; October, 14; November, 10; December, 15. 
Total, 146.] 
| | 
| . uw a ty ge 
Ble] 2le/2ig| g 
Food. a | 2 a : : q 3 = ae) % 
Be BEN ee 2) ee eee | Be i) Bee | ae 
64.6 a e = 3 = & > oe & = 
= 1 s 5 a 5 a 
5 & ¥ A 5 ae sa n © a a < 
ANIMAL, Per- | Per- | Per- | Per- | Prr- | Per- | Per- | Por- | Per- | Per- Per- | Per- 
cent. | cent. | cent. | cent. | cent. | ecnt. | cent | eent.! cent. | cent. cent. | cent. 
Predaceous beetles; 5.0 | 0.6 |...... ORS) tt Bus! (exer SOON 109 ian Syl at ee 
Snout-bectles......)...... 0.4] 2.0) 29.0] 4. ON | Rr ONS cereus 2° O89) Bab 
Other bectles...... 3.4 | 3.0] 0.3} 3.0 | 13.7 BS! 0.6) O83 | Of) O97) O89) 27 
Wasps, ants, cte..../.0002. b Oa} x52) ese) BOs) adel SpbeS: I) OSG” EOE Neen : OF |) 25 
Grasshoppers ......|...... 0.2] 20.5 33.38 | 26.8] 8.2 147.5 | 88.1] 0.6 |...... 7.1) 16.1 
Other insects ...... 1.0! 4.0} 22.4; 9.0] 10.6 |...... O06] 11! O8] S409] 54 
Total animal 
POOO < cicieecsse KE! 8.8) ABS | 75.6 621 [12.9 | o7.4 | 86.3] 9.0 | 18.2 | 10.4 | 81.8 
VEGETABLE, | . 
A IRINTUIN, st ssc itaecsxercvctone 90,6 | 77.1 | 68.2 5 21,0 | 32.7] 71.9 | 298 | AST | 84] 71.8 | 81.7 | 60.3 
Other vegetable 
POUT sexes stannsrspersrecen eres: W.6) 10) 86] 562])162) 28] 15.6] 5.6115.0] 7.9) 7.9 
Total vegetu- | 
ble food ...] 0.6 | 91.7 | 542] 26 | 37.9 | 871 32.6 | 63,7 | 91.0 | 86.8 | 89.6 | 68.2 
1Tr.= trace, 
‘Ontario Observer, June 3, 1899. 
