Some Common Birds Useful to the Farmer. 15 
37 of these insects. This seems to show conclusively that grasshoppers are 
preferred, and are eaten whenever they can be found. Especially notable 
is the great number taken in August, the month when grasshoppers reach their 
maximum abundance; stomach examination shows that large numbers of birds 
resort at this time to this diet, no matter what may be the food during the 
rest of the year. 
Next to grasshoppers, beetles make up the most important item of the 
meadowlark’s food, amounting to 25 per cent, about one-half of which are pre- 
dacious ground beetles. The others are all harmful species. 
Forty-two individuals of different kinds of May beetles were found in the 
stomachs of meadowlarks, and there were probably many more which were 
past recognition. To this form and several closely allied ones belong the 
numerous white grubs, which are among the worst enemies to many cultivated 
crops, notably grasses and grains, and to a less extent strawberries and garden 
vegetables. In the larval stage they eat the roots of these plants, and being 
large, one individual may destroy several plants. In the adult stage they feed 
upon the foliage of trees and other plants, and in this way add to the damage 
which they began in the earlier form. As these enemies of husbandry are not 
easily destroyed by man, it is obviously wise to encourage their natural foes. 
Among the weevils found in the stomachs the most important economically 
are the cotton-boll weevil and the recently introduced alfalfa weevil of Utah. 
Several hundred meadowlarks were taken in the cotton-growing region, and 
the boll weevil was found in 25 stomachs of the eastern meadowlark and in 16 
of the western species. Of the former, one stomach contained 27 individuals. 
Of 25 stomachs of western meadow- 
A ff v 
Nh 
in another 32 adults and 70: larve, 
still another had 10 adults and 40 
larve, and a fourth had 4 adults 
and 100 larve. 
Caterpillars form a very constant 
element of the food, and in May 
constitute over 24 per cent of the 
whole. May is the month when the | 
dreaded cutworm begins its deadly a Wee 
career, and then the lark does some a as 
ef its best work. Most of these  Fi¢. 13--Mesdowlark. | 
caterpillars are ground feeders, 
and are overlooked by birds which 
habitually frequent eos but the meadowlark finds and devours them 
i he insect food is made up of ants, wisps, 
by thousands. The remainder of the aera 
and spiders, with some bugs, including chinch bugs, i 
The vegetable food Sonege of grain and weed and other ee. 
in general amounts to 11 per cent and weed and ther situs ot land con. 
Grain, principally corn, is eaten mostly in winter an Se a summer and 
sists, therefore, of waste kernels; only a trifle is consum in was discovered. 
autumn, when it is most plentiful. No trace of SE a whe seeds of 
Clover seed was found in only six stomachs, and ne ie a ae aaten’ fron No= 
weeds, principally ragweed, barnyard grass, and sma ae replaced by insects. 
vember to April, inclusive, but during the rest of the year are replaced by inst 
. Briefly stated, more than half of the meadowlark’s food ce sane he eee 
insects; its vegetable food is composed either of noxious a ae re spiders: 
and the remainder is made u 
of useful beetles or neutra t : 
A strong point in the pird’s Hae is that, although natur hc ee pres x 
is able to subsist on vegetable food, and consequently is no g 
in cold weather farther than is necessary to find gr 
ound free from snow. 
THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. 
i in i i forms (fig. 14) is found 
-wi amp blackbird ® in its various wee 
Woe ee re. er tee and the region immediately . ee ee - 
cone ia age: of its range, its distribution is more or |e ; J 
larks taken in alfalfa fields of Utah, i ne er: 
15 contained the alfalfa weevil. In i yi Wa Wy 
WAAL Y ‘ 
, Mi WA a 
Yi 
one stomach 23 adults were found, t f ii 'y 
LUN all tha 
Atti | fia y uh 
a 
Length, about 10 
42 Agelaius pheniceus. 
