KINGLETS. 81 
food. When one notices how thoroughly each tree is inspected by 
dozens of pairs of keen, prying eyes, he is surprised that any insects or 
their eggs should survive to produce broods. 
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 
(Regulus calendula.) 
The ruby-crowned kinglet is known in California principally as a 
winter resident, though in some of the high mountains it remains 
through the summer and breeds. Its small size would prevent it 
from doing appreciable injury to fruit or grain were any to be had 
when it is in the fruit and grain raising regions. 
As might be inferred from field observations, its diet consists 
almost entirely of insects and their eggs, and the number it destroys 
is beyond computation. 
In investigating the food of the kinglet 294 stomachs were exam- 
ined, all taken in California from September to April, inclusive. 
Only 1 stomach was collected in September, 5 in March, and 5 in 
April. The other included months are fairly well represented. The 
food consisted of 94 percent of animal matter and 6 percent of vege- 
table. It was made up of insects, spiders, and pseudoscorpions— 
minute creatures resembling microscopic lobsters—fruit, weed seeds, 
ete. 
Animal food—The animal food is quite evenly distributed through 
the season. The greatest amount, 100 percent, appeared in the first 
and last two months, and the least, 79 percent, in January. Hyme- 
noptera, in the shape of wasps, and a few ants appear to be the 
favorite food, as they aggregate over 32 percent of the whole. The 
stomach taken in September contained none of them, but in every 
other month they are fairly well represented, and with but little 
variation until March, when there is a sudden increase, which con- 
tinues in April. This is undoubtedly due to the increased numbers of 
these insects following the return of warm, dry weather, for the order 
is noted for its fondness for warmth and sunshine. Adverse criti- 
cism may be made upon this element of the kinglet’s diet, as flying 
Hymenoptera are useful agents in the fertilization of flowers, and 
some species of plants are dependent upon them for the performance 
of this important function. The parasitic species of this order also 
were found to some extent in the food of the kinglet, and unques- 
tionably many of these are decidedly useful. 
In the food of the kinglet, bugs (Hemiptera) are next in impor- 
tance. They constitute nearly 26 percent of the diet, and are found 
in greatest quantity in the first months of the bird's winter stay, in 
September and October, but gradually decrease till spring. 
9379—No. 30—07——6 
