WILD FRUIT EATEN BY THE ROSEBREAST. 41 
the total food. Many different kinds of fruit are eaten, among 
which elderberries are probably of most importance. Both the com- 
mon sweet elder (Sambucus canadensis) and the red-berried elder 
(S. pubens) were identified. Nineteen birds had eaten these fruits, 
which often composed from 60 to 90 percent of the stomach contents. 
In the gizzard of 1 grosbeak were found fully 200 seeds, which 
means that no less than 40 to 50 berries were taken at one meal. 
Blackberries and raspberries rank next in preference, 17 birds having 
eaten them, and they sometimes constitute 80 percent of the food of 
individual birds. 
Mulberries also are relished, the rosebreast often being observed 
feeding on the wild red mulberry (J/orus rubra). June berries 
(Amelanchier canadensis, Plate II, fig. 3) were eaten by 3 of the 
grosbeaks examined, 80 seeds being discovered in 1 stomach. Eight 
or more of these rather large fruits must therefore have been taken 
by this bird. Among other wild fruits eaten by the birds examined 
are wild red and black cherries (Plate IT, fig. 1), choke cherry, rough- 
leaved dogwood (Plate IT, fig. 6), winter- 
green, checkerberry, red haw, strawberry, 
supple-jack, and pokeberry (Plate IT, fig. 
4). In addition to these, authors and 
correspondents add flowering dogwood 
(Plate I, fig. 5), juniper, and sour gum. 
WEEDS. 
Although this grosbeak is not particu- "16. 21.—Seeds of black bind- 
larly fond of the seeds of weeds, it takes ae fe Hee 
part in the warfare which birds wage vada Experiment Station.) 
against these misplaced plants, and attacks’ some very troublesome 
species. Fifteen and three-fourths percent of the bird’s food is com- 
posed of weed seed, and a greater proportion is consumed in August 
and September than in other months. The seeds of smartweed and 
bindweed (fig. 21), species unfavorably known both in country and 
town, were selected by the greater number of rosebreasts. Those of 
tumbleweed or amaranth (fig. 18) are next in favor, and when eaten at 
all almost invariably compose the major part of the stomach contents. 
These weeds are obnoxious almost everywhere, and their bad qualities 
are universally acknowledged. Seeds of foxtail (figs. 17 and 37), 
highly valued in the dietary of many birds, were fed upon by but 
2 rose-breasted grosbeaks, and other grass seeds—a small wild oat 
in 2 cases—were eaten by 4 of the birds examined. Nightshade 
and sedge seeds were each selected by the same number of birds. The 
akenes of both common. (fig. 6) and giant ragweed were sampled, and 
