NUTHATCHES AND TITMICE. 77 
bodies are of the softest texture specific identification is not possible. 
Many of them, however, were determined to be of the species com- 
monly called ‘ woolly aphides,’ as their bodies are covered with a 
white cottony or woolly substance. Aphides were identified in 30 
stomachs, but it is probable that they were contained in more, as a 
pasty mass that could only be called ‘ hemipterous remains’ was of 
frequent occurrence. Leaf-hoppers were found in many stomachs, 
and appear to be favorite food. Tree-hoppers also are eaten to a con- 
siderable extent, and as their bodies are hard, like those of beetles, 
they are more easily recogiiized than plant-lice. The jumping plant- 
lice were found in a few stomachs, but were rather difficult to dis- 
tinguish in the conglomeration of plant-lice and other soft-bodied 
insects. False chinch bugs were found in a number of stomachs 
from the southern part of the State. These, perhaps, were the best 
preserved of any of the insects, for in most cases they could be dis- 
tinguished individually. Over 50 were taken from one stomach. 
Next to the bug family, the favorite food of the bush tits seems to 
be beetles. They constitute somewhat over 10 percent of the year’s 
food and attain their maximum in September, when they amount to 
a little more than 27 percent of the food. The fewest were taken in 
December—less than 1 percent—but in all the other months they were 
found to a moderate extent except in the one stomach taken in April, 
which contained none. Among them were species of the ladybug 
family (Coccinellide), which are useful insects, as they are mostly 
carnivorous and feed largely upon plant-lice. In order to ascertain 
just how much harm the tit does in devouring ladybugs, a separate 
account. was kept, and it was found that the total amount eaten dur- 
ing the year was 2.4 percent of the whole food. Most of these insects 
were eaten in September and October, when the consumption 
amounted to 11 and 6 percent, respectively. These are the only 
decidedly useful insects eaten by the bush tit, and in view of their 
small number the subject may be dismissed without further com- 
ment. The other beetles taken were largely small leaf-beetles (Chrys- 
omelide), all of which are harmful. With them were some small 
weevils (Rhynchophora), which feed upon seeds and other parts of 
plants, with a few scolytids that burrow under the bark of trees to 
their great injury. 
Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), most of them in the larval 
form (caterpillars), are next to beetles in importance in the food of 
the bush tit. They are, however, far from being such favorite food 
as bugs. The total is a little more than 16 percent. They are fairly 
evenly distributed through the year, though in spring and early sum- 
mer they are consumed to a somewhat larger extent than in fall and 
winter. The greatest consumption was in May, when they aggregated 
