FLYCATCHER FAMILY, 31 
plant. One stomach was entirely filled with tree hoppers and two 
with cicadas. . 
Flies (Diptera) amount to about 14 percent and were eaten in nearly 
every month. Robber flies were identified in two stomachs, one of 
which has already been referred to. Most of the others were of the 
family of the common house fly (Muscide). 
Caterpillars were found in 20 stomachs and moths in 7. Together 
they amount to 19 percent of the food. This shows that caterpillars 
are a favorite article of food with this bird, and proves that it does 
not take all its food on the wing. While no stomach was entirely 
filled with caterpillars, one contained nothing but moths. ; 
Grasshoppers formed about 5 percent of the food, and were mostly 
taken in May, June, and July. One stomach contained nothing else. 
As they do not often come within reach of flycatchers, these insects 
must be especially sought for. 
Various other insects and spiders amount to a little more than 3 
percent. Among these the two most prominent were dragonflies and 
Raphidia. These last are small insects with remarkably long necks, 
and as they prey upon other insects and are said to feed upon the 
larve of the codling moth, their destruction by birds is to be deplored. 
Spiders are eaten by the ash-throat quite regularly, but not exten- 
sively. ‘Apparently, most birds take spiders when found, but do not 
seek for them. 
Vegetable food.—Vegetable food was found in 9stomachs. Of these, 
5 contained remains of elderberries; 2, bits of other small fruit; and 
2, skins which might have been those of cultivated varieties. The 
total for the year is 8 percent. 
Feeding of young.—Besides the examination of stomachs of the 
ash-throated flycatcher, observations were made upon the feeding of 
a nest of young situated in the cornice of an abandoned ranch house. 
The nest contained four young about a week old when first discovered. 
The number of feedings and times of observations are given in the 
following table: 
. Number . Number 
Heurs in Hours in 
of feed- of feed- 
Pate: forenoon. ings. afternoon. ings. 
PUNE 1S 225 eck ncciisGick cease eS 12. 59-1. 59 : 
18 
6 
PUNO lease cen senmarece cites 5. 15- 6. 15 
DO se aiqani see was as tenes 11. 27-12. 27 
JUNC 28 eo essns etoece cae eee ee 5. 26- 6.26 
