SPARROW FAMILY. 719 
Weed seed amounts to 33 percent of the food and is eaten in every 
month. It is, however, complementary to the bud and blossom 
food, the one increasing as the other decreases. Weed seed begins 
with a percentage of 83 in October, and gradually diminishes, while 
buds and blossoms appear first in December with 22 percent and 
increase to their maximum in April. 
Below is a list of species identified, showing the number of stomachs 
in which each was contained: 
Tarweed, CMadid: 8ai0d) xcnis ctoten's ve eat aeh c hele Sadek sd See oon MALU Eae ewes i. 
Mayweed (Anthemis cotula)......-..2. 2.200202 0 0c cece eee eee eee eee 15 
Bur thistle (Centaurea melitensis)............00 00000 c cece eee eee eee 18 
Nightshade. (Solanum nigrum): 3.202 cc2wcee sie ce ey so 24 scadeaeiecloexankeseasws 16 
Lupine: (biipinus sp. ees venaeee eva cn eiedeeee cue Lees celta Seossinnaeee ee 1 
Clover (Trifolium sp.)......--.----2-.22- 22-022 e eee eee eee eee 2 
Turkey mullein (Eremocarpus setigerus)......-.22222200200e cee eee ce eee eee ee eee 2 
Poison oak (Rhus diversiloba)............00-0-0 0-0-0020 e eee ee eee eee eee 30 
Alfilaria (Erodiwm cicutarium)....-...2.---0-0.--0 eee e eee ene eee eee eee 16 
Geranium (Geranium dissectum) ......... 2202-22-00 2 00 o vee e eee e eee e tees 16 
Mustard (Brassica nigra)........2-.-02.2-02 ec eee eee ee eee eee eee ences 1 
Rough pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus)......-2-.22.02002-000 222 ee ere eee eee 18 
Spurry (Spergula arvensis).......---- 222-202-200 eee eee eects 4 
Chickweed (Stellaria media)..............0-02 20002 een eee center eee ees 10 
Catchfly (Silene ep) .ceseue succes cee cs precession eee 1 
Knotweed (Polygonum sp.)....---------+002e2 eee e eee reece eet eee eeteeee ees 10 
Sorrel (Rumex sp.).....--22-----+- aii at EE Misti caty een tea tat 10 
Brome grass (Bromus sp.)...-.-----2--2-2 200-02 e treet eters eects 11 
Sedge (Carex sp.)..-...-2-------- ene eP SERN TE SOAP EE A a eer Te TR LS ee 1 
Séodsvof ‘conifer ccs iiisvc ateleyal tone sens earnndeineare ees Ieee aaeeceoeenee 1 
UW Mid en tin eel: sooo eta atacand tn ern eA PAINS See St cot bee Bt ce ge (erateeencie 39 
The last item includes stomachs in which the food was ground to a 
pulp, rendering identification impossible. Few whole seeds were 
unidentified. Poison-oak seeds are indicated as found in 30 stomachs, 
but as a matter of fact not a single seed of that plant was seen In any 
stomach. The birds ate only the wax which surrounds those seeds 
and which contains certain woody granules by which it can at once 
be identified. This species, then, does not aid in the dissemination of 
these noxious plants. 
SUMMARY. 
From the foregoing it is evident that the golden-crown during its 
stay in California does but little service in destroying insects. On 
the other hand, it does no direct harm to fruit, and little, if any, to 
grain. It does good by destroying weed seed, although not as much 
as some other species. By the destruction of buds and blossoms 1t 
may do serious harm where it is numerous and visits the orchards. 
