WRENS. 61 
Among the 36 stomachs, of which the record has just been given, 
were 18 nestlings, some being about a week old, others about ready 
to leave the nest. The results of the examination of these were tabu- 
lated by themselves in order to determine the differences, if any, 
between the food of the adults and that of the young. No vegetable 
matter was found in any of the stomachs, and the animal food was 
distributed among a comparatively few elements. Bugs (Hemiptera) 
are the largest item, and amount to nearly 36 percent. Caterpillars 
and grasshoppers stand next, with 17 and 16 percent, respectively. 
It is interesting to note that about three times as many grasshop- 
pers are fed to the young as are eaten by the adults. Wasps and ants 
amount to a little more than 6 percent, and are the smallest item. 
Spiders appear to the extent of a little over 11 percent. Beetles, 
however, constitute the most interesting item of the food. They 
were eaten to an average extent of somewhat more than 11 percent, 
and were nearly all ladybirds (Coccinellide) contained in the stom- 
achs of five individuals of a brood of six. The amount in each 
stomach varied from 15 to 65 percent of the contents, and averaged 
29 percent of each of the six birds. It is a question which is the more 
surprising, that this brood had eaten so many coccinellids, or that 
the others had eaten so few. Only three other stomachs contained 
any of these beetles and those were all adults. The house wren does 
not exhibit any special proclivities for ladybirds, and it would seem 
probable that in this case either other food was wanting or these 
beetles were specially abundant. 
In addition to the examination of stomachs, observations were made 
upon the feeding of nestling wrens. A nest situated in the porch of 
the house of Mr. W. O. Emerson, at Haywards, Cal., was observed 
for one-hour periods from soon after the young were hatched until 
they were nearly ready to fly. The nest was watched at various times 
of day, so as to include as nearly as possible all hours of daylight. 
During the first two periods the male aided in feeding the young, 
but afterwards was not seen, and the whole care of the young de- 
volved upon the mother. The number of young probably was not 
fewer than six. Following are the results in tabular form: 
| Forenoon. : Afternoon. 
Date. | = | lege ats 
Hour of ob- | ue \- Hour of ob- | our a 
| servation. fe edings. servation. feedings. 
May 18... 10. 00-11. 00 8 4. 00-5. 00 7 
May 19... 9. 35-10. 35 13 4. 30-5. 30 10 
May 20 10. 29-11. 29 BOR ere Es er ean Ine, Mcineresirarers 
May 21 8, 23- 9. 23 20° 2. 01-8. 01 12 
May 23 8. 22- 9,22 19 ee Semoeietelstotise sual sheared cela 
May 26 10. 35-11. 35 iy Aa Rene a eco ae marers actrees 
Mage oad essgusemegter rane bebadones 2. 36-3. 36 31 
May 28...! 8.20- 9.20 | 88 lic i kehacecce:| some vey 
May 30...| 10.40-11.40 | BIG carts eiassitnaciaian lceuremceat 
