46 BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA AFFECTING FRUIT INDUSTRY. 
SUMMARY. 
It must be evident to the most casual reader that this bird is a 
valuable asset in the orchard and garden. The great bulk of its 
food, both animal and vegetable, is composed of elements the elimina- 
tion of which from the farm is a benefit. As has been elsewhere 
pointed out, the destruction of insects during winter or in early 
spring is more useful than in the height of the midsummer abun- 
dance, for in spring the progenitors of the season’s broods are 
destroyed and with them the possibility of thousands of progeny. 
MYRTLE WARBLER. 
(Dendroica corondta.) 
This is another winter visitant in California. Only 10 stomachs 
of this species have been examined, but the contents show the pre- 
dominant. food characteristic of the genus. There is one point, how- 
ever, which is worthy of passing note. One of these stomachs was 
completely filled with greedy scales (Aspidiotus rapax), with the 
exception of a small fragment of a beetle; another contained remains 
of the black olive scale, and still another some scales not identified. 
TOWNSEND WARBLER. 
(Dendroica townsendiy 
The Townsend warbler, like the Audubon, summers in California 
only in the mountains. During the migration and in winter it visits 
the valleys. Like other members of the family it is an insect eater 
almost exclusively, and does not eat fruit or other farm products. 
Thirty-one stomachs were taken in the four months from October to 
January inclusive, in the region from Pacific Grove to Watsonville. 
As our stomach examinations disclose the fact that the food of this 
warbler agrees closely with that of cthers of the same group, a fair 
idea of the diet for the above months is obtained. 
luimal food—The animal food consists of insects and a few 
spiders, and amounts to over 95 percent of the food during the time 
specified. Of this, bugs make up 42 percent, mostly stink-bugs 
(Pentatomida:) and a few leaf-hoppers and scales. The former 
appear to be a favorite food. Although these insects are eaten with 
considerable regularity by most of the warblers of this group, they 
are not usually taken in great numbers, but the ‘Townsend warbler 
eats many, and several stomachs were entirely filled with them. 
Hymenoptera, consisting of both wasps and ants, are eaten to the 
extent of 25 percent of the food. Most of them are winged species. 
Perhaps the most striking point in the food of this bird is the great 
