WARBLERS. 51 
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. 
(Helminthophila eclata subspp. ) 
The genus Helminthophila is next to Dendroica in the number of 
species and subspecies it contains, but still falls far below it. Several 
species occur in California, but the one under consideration is prob- 
ably the most important. Only 65 stomachs were available for exami- 
nation, but they confirm the evidence already obtained from other 
species. : 
Vegetable food.—Less than 9 percent of the food is vegetable mat- 
ter, and is made up of 3 percent of fruit and rather more than 5 per- 
cent of various substances, such as leaf galls, seeds, and rubbish. 
Fruit was found in only a few stomachs, but the percentage in each 
was considerable ; figs were the only variety identified. 
Animal food—The animal matter in these stomachs amounts to 91 
percent of the food. Hemiptera are the largest item and amount to 
over 25 percent, mostly leaf-bugs, leaf-hoppers, plant-lice, and scales.. 
Plant-lice were found in only one stomach and scales in 5, of which 3 
contained the black olive species. Beetles amount to about 19 percent 
of the food, and with the exception of a few Coccinellide are of 
harmful families, among which are a number of weevils. 
Beetles and bugs are the two orders of insects that are not only 
eaten to the greatest extent but are taken with great regularity, and 
form a respectable percentage of the food in every month. 
Caterpillars are eaten rather irregularly, though they aggregate 24 
percent for the year. Stomachs collected in several months contained 
none, while in others they amounted to more than half the food. 
Probably the examination of a greater number of stomachs would 
show more regularity in the consumption of these insects. 
Hymenoptera amount nearly to 15 percent, and are mostly small 
wasps, though some ants are eaten. This is the smallest percentage 
for this order that has yet been found in the food of any warbler. 
Flies are represented hy less than 1 percent, which is mnusnally 
-inall, Perhaps this warbler lacks the slall to ecateh such agile 
insects. Seven percent of spiders were found in the stcmachs. the 
largest wercentae: of these creatures for any warbler. This again 
‘ndicates that the orange-crown is most successful in hunting slug- 
gish game, such as beetles, bugs, and spiders. 
GOLDEN PILEQLATED WARBLER. 
(Wilsonia Pusille subspp.) 
The golden pileolated warbler is another of the small birds that 
summer here and there on the Pacific coast, mostly in willows and 
a 
