WARBLERS. 47 
number of weevils or snout-beetles represented. They amount to over 
20 percent of the food, while all other beetles form less than 1 percent. 
The greater number of these insects were of the species Diodyrhyn- 
chus byturoides, a weevil which destroys the staminate blossoms of 
coniferous trees. Five stomachs contained, respectively, 68, 65, 53, 
50, and 35 of these beetles, or 271 in all. Moreover, each of these 
stomachs contained fragments which could not be satisfactorily iden- 
tified; probably these were the same species, so that the total con- 
tained in the 5 stomachs is probably nearer 300. Several other 
stomachs contained fewer of these weevils. Representatives also of 
another family of snout-beetles very: destructive to timber were pres- 
ent ina few stomachs. These were the engravers (Scolytide), which 
lay their eggs beneath the bark of trees, where they hatch, and the 
larve bore in every direction. Caterpillars and a few miscellaneous 
insects and some spiders make up the remainder of the animal food. 
Vegetable food—The vegetable matter, which amounts to less than 
5 percent of the whole, consists of a few seeds and leaf galls. As the 
galls in most. cases contained small larve it is a question if they 
should not be reckoned as animal food. 
SUM MARY. 
While this can be considered as only a preliminary study of the 
food of the Townsend warbler, the thoughtful reader can not fail to 
be impressed by the fact that this bird exhibits some very valuable 
economic traits, especially in its relation to the forest. The stomachs 
containing the pine-eating weevils were from birds killed in the pine 
forests of Pacific Grove, near Monterey, as also were those containing 
the engmver beetles. Of the 30 stomachs examined, 19 held the 
remains of weevils, from which it would appear that these insects 
are preferred as an article of food. As this group of beetles con- 
tains some of the worst pests of the forest and orchard, any bird that 
eats them so freely must be considered as performing a most welcome 
service. 
SUMMER WARBLER. 
(Dendroica «stirva subspp.) 
The summer warbler, yellow warbler, or summer yellowbird, as it 
is variously called, is represented in the West by two subspecies, one 
of which visits California only as a migrant. The other, which does 
not differ essentially from the eastern form, is a rather common sum- 
mer resident throughout the valley and foothill regions. In the Fast 
this bird is fairly domestic in its habits, and may often be seen about 
gardens and orchards, or in rose bushes nearer the house. In Cali- 
fornia it is not quite so familiar, but is becoming so and probably will 
