88 BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA AFFECTING FRUIT INDUSTRY. 
berries were identified. In August and September the fruit eaten 
was of the larger varieties, like apricots, peaches, and prunes. Later 
in the year the wild kinds only were taken. The one stomach which’ 
contained cherries was collected the last of May. If this bird were 
as abundant as the linnet, it would do considerable damage to the 
larger fruits. Under present conditions its depredations probably 
pass unnoticed. 
Grain was eaten from June to December, inclusive, except in 
November. The amount for the year is 4.7 percent. In August, the 
month of greatest consumption, 16 percent was taken. .It was found 
in 17 stomachs, of which 10 contained oats; 3, wheat; 3, corn; and 
1, barley. As most of this was gleaned after harvest, probably no 
harm was done. 
Weed seed is a standard article of diet with this bird, as with 
many others. It was found in 93 of the 139 stomachs, and 11 con- 
tained nothing else. The average amount for the year is 34.6 per- 
cent of the food, and it was found in every month except March; 
but as only one bird was collected in that month, the exception is 
probably accidental. January was the month when most was eaten, 
62.8 percent, but as some other months stood nearly as high, this 
has no special significance. Bur thistle seems to be the favorite 
seed, although the towhee does not show so strong a preference for 
any weed as some other species exhibit. 
Following is a list of species identified and the number of stomachs 
in which each was found: 
Tarweed:( Madia-savwva) oc. ecco. tedec'snddo8 eb cad caddeieidddclawdadeas sdaaluses 10 
Bur thistle (Centaurea melitensis)........00.00 ccc cece ce eee eee eee ee es 27 
Nightshade (Solanwm igri) scis sce aiavacs ees 22 as oo 4 eae eralme eee eee 8 
Plantain (Plantagoiaviccolattn) 2.2. 2ees $ cera eee a egiwao esta ae hee 1 
CTA, CASSIS PN co ook ccsyaaype care covesc ceases vas ca ocie ave avaronavakaneaasasanecor tera taeeeunderen eels 1 
Clowe nn (CT rife Mires Spy) ccc cpat fase ak de ecto ys ate ae acolo ocho ase ne oy esas 1 
JLegtimicsmnidentined . on3 co iies eal nian se oaoa 6 2 eines ata yee leita SS 3 
Turkey mullein (Zremocarpos setigerus)..........0000020 00020 e cece eee eee eee 2 
Poisonsoak(Rius diverslOba) secu. weiss ovo oe se daveai eect sae (led ee ee os payee ll 
IS UNTAELCH CHEN SAI Vict 8 ate hat hac pce ne tsa aa he a ae as ede Paetith seat aCe Nis 1, 
Alfilaria (Erodium cicutarium).....-.-..00000000 cece cece eee ee eee e nee n eens abt 
IMU tAiels CBrGSSt COWRA) gaps. ecsvcseeyaperae eae aS = laste aerononene eee Seed ween doiciale 1 
Miners’ lettuce (.Montia perfoliata)............0...00cee ccc eeccecn eee eeee 8 
Red maids (Calandrinia menziesi) 2 
Rough pigweed (Amaranthus retroflevus) ........00002 000 eee ee ee eee eee il 
Chitvhkweed (Stellaria medias secs cc.t stood enka 44 or auidennbaled of28 5404s SegeEEE? 8 
Knotweed (Polygonum ap.). 02.02.0202. cece eee cee cece eee cece cee eceneeeee 4 
SOBRE] CRUM Gri BD) nak ato eae citer oh ey eaneea ae ai cena in ON eiatalehen ari Uerbetan ans 5 
ANT OU OSH CAD er IAP), scrccceccctcuste nn isin spree ars anand een eet etin nea a a8 ges a a cerhe oa Be 9 
CULE Cs COG POMEB Bi) sche aestauvcxcteacttevsnsstine: anally chs tgaalabaiapeh netfee eu mtcesidu a dcarai aes 3 
Unidentified 34 
Another article of the towhee’s food is mast. It is somewhat difficult 
to distinguish between mast and weed seed when both are ground to a 
pulp. As divided, however, mast amounts to 15.6 percent of the 
