LAND BIRDS. 423 
and open fields, and that they hide during the day * * * in just such places as are 
preferably investigated by the Crow in search of food, it is remarkable that they do not 
constitute the largest part of the insect food. Even if we include all other lepidopterous 
larvee and pupe found in the stomachs, this food does not by any means rank among the 
most prominent features. The only explanation that occurs tome * * * is that the 
Crow greatly prefers insects with hard bodies. Cutworms occur in many stomachs, usually 
singly or in very small numbers, rarely forming the bulk of the food in any one stomach 
and never the entire food. Noctuid pupe were found only in isolated cases. 
“8. Soldier bugs (Pentatomide). Although by no means representing a considerable 
portion of the insect food, the constantly recurring presence of various species of soldier 
bugs constitutes a characteristic feature in the food habits of the Crow. * * * It 
seems probable that the strong odor or taste of these soldier bugs is the reason why they 
are so eagerly sought by the Crows. * * * Those found belong to Podisus, Euschistus, 
and allied genera. 
“9, Ants (Formicide). Ants form only a small proportion of the bulk of the insect 
food, but their frequent occurrence in the stomachs suggests the explanation that they are 
relished by the Crow on account of their peculiar acid taste. * * * The largest species, 
Camponotus and Formica, are most frequent. The presence of very small species is probably 
due to accident (picked up with dead or wounded May-beetles). 
“ Among insects which occurred only in w moderate number of stomachs and usually 
only as single specimens, or only in a few stomachs in large numbers, the following perhaps 
deserve mention: 
“Click-beetles (Elateride). A tolerably large number of species but none represented 
by many specimens. Larvae (wire-worms) were found only in a few isolated instances. 
“Tamellicorn beetles. Lucanids occur occasionally, while various species of Scarabeeids 
form in the aggregate a not inconspicuous portion of the insect food. 
“ Ants, bees, and wasps (Hymenoptera). Only a moderate number of species and speci- 
mens found, except of ants, already referred to. 
“Flies (Diptera). The whole order is comparatively poorly represented. The small 
number of larve and puparia found in the stomachs is in striking contrast with their 
enormous abundance in the excrement of horses, cattle, ete., or in dead animals. 
“Crickets (Gryllide). Very poorly represented. Ground crickets of the genera Gryllus 
and Nemobius occur in a moderate number of stomachs.” 
The complete or almost complete absence in the stomachs of numerous 
harmful insects which live in places readily accessible to the Crow is note- 
worthy. Witness the following from Mr. Schwarz’ report: 
“The absence of the large family of leaf-beetles (Chrysomelide) is striking. Not a 
specimen of the notorious Colorado potato beetle was found, nor a single larva of any 
member of the family. 
“The absence of all cabbage-worms deserves mention, also the absence of the various 
Sphingid larve and their pupx, which infest potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and 
tobacco. The corn-worm (larva of Heliothis armigera) is here specially mentioned because 
it is said that the Crows pull open and injure the ears of corn only for the purpose of getting 
at the corn worms. None were recognized in the stomachs. 
“No traces of the Hessian-fly were found in the stomachs, but the small size of the 
larva and pupa, as well as their mode of occurrence, make it improbable that the Crows 
ever feed on this insect. ‘ : ; 
“ Among all the stomachs examined only a single specimen of the notorious chinch bug 
(Blissus leucopterus) was found, and, unless we assume that this insect is too small, no 
explanation of its absence is offered. ; ; : 
“The more or less injurious leaf-hoppers (Jasside, Cercopid, Membracide) are not 
represented in the stomachs. ft ates ; 
“No specimens of white ants (Termitide), the only injurious family of the order 
Neuroptera, occurred in the stomachs. ; ; 
“ All spiders are insectivorous but only a few are useful to man. _The only family which 
is well represented in the stomachs (Lycosidz) has no economic importance. 
“No ticks (Ixodide) were found in the stomachs.” 
In summing up the good and harm done by the Crow in the consumption 
of insects we must give full credit for his work on grasshoppers, May beetles, 
click beetles and weevils. The work on grasshoppers is all good; the work 
on May beetles is likely to be greatly overrated, yet unquestionably is 
important. Many years of careful field work have convinced us that 
