at 
SPARROW FAMILY. 75 
of the seeds identified and the number of stomachs in which each 
species was found: 
Sunflower (Helianthus sp.)... 2-22... 2220 ee eee ee 4 
Lesser tarweed (Hemizonia fasciculata) ...... 2.2... 2 0c ee eee ee ee 1 
Tarweed (Madd $@UdG) en cccec so doen ec pei aewia oe oan nee Rese seem EeY 23 
Mayweed (Anthemis cotula) -....-... 22.22.2222. 22022 e eee eee eee cece eee 10 
Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris). 2.2... eee eee 33 
Bur thistle (Centaurea melitensis)... 22.2... e eee eee eee 243 
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)... ......-...-----0 02 eevee ceeee ee eee eee 1 
Turkey mullein (Eremocarpus setigerus)........2.-.- 22-202 e eee ceeneeeeeee eee ee es 18 
Alfilaria (Hrodium cicutartum)... 2.2.2.2. 20-2 e eee ee ee cree eee eee 9 
Black mustard (Brassica nigra)... ....--...-.- 222-022 e eee eee eee tees 1 
Miner’s lettuce ( Montia perfoliata)...........--2-22-202002 22 eee eee eee eee 2 
Red maids (Calandrinia menziesi).........-..- 02-22-2222 eee eee eee eee eee eee 1 
Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflecus).......----2-0 2-220 eee ee cece eee eee eee 30 
Chickweed (Stellaria media)... .....-. 22-02-2202 020e cece eee eee tee eeee 3 
Catchy (SueneSp)) casos dnewker ee poencnase ek wnSAueLhae ee eend eadeeaeee 1 
Knotweed (Polygonum sp.).......----- 2-0-2220 e cece ec e eee sree ete eteeess 2 
Sorrel (Rumet: ep.) 2c. sac echoes a uuus cise sc asec euuieion y= Sule eae detetel ee 1 
Sedge: ( Caret 8.)ic-sscusceonc cnneiieieg ano Minnhs noes ee Rise ee age oom aeegtens 6 
SUMMARY. 
If there are any faults in the food habits of the green-backed gold- 
finch, the writer does not know them. The little animal food it con- 
sumes consists of harmful insects, and practically all of its vegetable 
food consists of seeds of useless or harmful weeds. This goldfinch 
should be protected to the fullest extent. 
INTERMEDIATE AND NUTTALL SPARROWS. 
(Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli and nuttalli.) 
One or the other of these two subspecies of the white-crowned 
sparrow is found throughout the year in some part of California, and 
in winter the intermediate (gambeli) is distributed nearly all over the 
lower parts of the State. These sparrows frequent valleys, brushy 
hillsides, highways, and cultivated fields. The only complaint against 
them is that in spring and in winter they eat buds of fruit trees. Buds 
are usually overabundant, and the loss of some 1s generally a benefit 
to the tree; in any event it would require a very thorough disbudding 
to do much damage. 
For the investigation of the bird’s 
able, taken in every month of the year, 
by only one, and May and July by two each. The 
7.4 percent of animal matter to 92.6 of vegetable. P 
Animal food.—Beetles amount to 1.4 percent of the food. In sa 
they reach nearly 8 percent, but in the other months are Lee ere 
Practically all of them are harmful. Hymenoptera amount to 
percent. In June they reach over 16 percent, but in the other mon 
food, 516 stomachs were avail- 
though August was represented 
first analysis gives 
