THE CROW BLACKBIRD. 61 
The species most commonly found in the stomach belong to the well- 
known genus Lachnosterna, or common May-beetle, several species of 
dung-beetles belonging to the genera Aphodius and Atenius, and the 
wonderfully brilliant Phancwus carnifex. The last is one of the most 
conspicuously colored of all the beetles, being clad in green, purple, 
and gold, which shade to crimson with the changing light. Whether 
these splendid tints attract the birds’ attention, whether there is some 
peculiarly agreeable flavor to recommend the insects as an article of 
diet, or whether the simple fact of availability from their great abun- 
dance impels the birds to eat them so freely is yet to be determined; 
but, from whatever cause, a majority of the stomachs of all the grackles 
taken in the Mississippi Valley during summer contained at least a 
trace and often the remains of several of these beetles. 
Curculios, snout-beetles or weevils, are eaten in every month of the 
year, but, while they are taken in great numbers, the individuals are 
so small that the percentage of bulk does not rise as high as in the case 
of the scarabeids. The maximum is reached in June, when they con- 
stitute more than 5 percent of the total food, with a gradual decrease 
in the succeeding months. Insects of such small size could hardly be 
obtained except by diligent search, and their presence in so many 
stomachs (1,059), and also the large numbers in single stomachs (some- 
times exceeding 40), warrants the conclusion that they are sought as 
choice articles of food. The species most often eaten are Epiewrus 
imbricatus, Phytonomus punctatus, Sitones hispidulus, and more rarely 
Sphenophorus zew and other species of Sphenophorus. Of this last, 
commonly known as the corn weevil, 17 were found in one stomach 
and 14 in another. 
Many other beetles were found in the stomachs, but, with one excep’ 
tion, in quantities too small to be of much economic interest. Thi 
Colorado potato beetle was not present, but several species belonging 
to the same family were identified. The one exception just referred 
to is that of the carabids or predaceous beetles. These valuable 
destroyers of noxious insects are eaten in every month of the year in 
varying quantities, but with less variability than most other insects. 
They constitute more than 7 percent of the food in January, attain a 
maximum of 13 percent in June, and end with one-half percent in 
December. From these figures it would seem that they are highly 
prized by blackbirds; but there are other facts that have a bearing on 
the case. Most carabid beetles are of fair size and easily seen, and 
many of them are quite large; moreover, they live on the ground and 
are much oftener seen running than flying. They are the first beetles 
observed in spring, and are usually abundant at all times when insects 
are to be found. Since blackbirds seek a great portion of their food 
on the ground it is apparent that these beetles must naturally fall in 
their way oftener than any others, and so are freely eaten, especially 
