52 



FOOD OF BOBOLIISTK, BLACKBIRDS, ATSTD GRACKLES. 



broug'iit out, viz: (1) No order of insects is especially sought except 

 grasshoppers (Orthoptera), which constitute more than half of the 

 animal food; (2) more than 88 percent of the vegetable food consists 

 of grain, which is eaten freel}^ at all seasons, even when insects are 

 abundant; and (3) seeds of harmful weeds are eaten sparingly. 



In spite of this apparently discreditable record complaints of this 

 blackbird have been fewer than of several other species, while, on the 

 other hand, some observers speak highl}. of it. Prof. A. J. Cook, of 

 Claremont, Cal., says that he considers it one of the most valuable 

 species in that State. So far as shown by field observation and stom- 

 ach examination it does not attack fruit, and this is an important point 

 in a California bird. Mr. J. F. lllingsworth, of Ontario, Cal., in a 

 paper read before the Pomona Farmers' Club,^ speaks of the species 

 as a beneficial one that should be protected. It is possible that the 

 large amount of grain found in the stomachs consists principally of 

 gleanings from the harvested fields, corrals, and other places; but even 

 if this be true, a bird with such a pronounced taste for grain would, if 

 abundant, always be a menace to ripening crops. The following tabu- 

 lar statement shows the principal elements of the food: 



Food of Bretver^s blackbird. 



[Number of stomachs examined: .January,?; February,?: March, 4; April, no stomachs collected, 

 May, 7; June, 10; July, 10; August, 24; September, 38; October, 14; November, 10; December, 15. 

 Total, 146.] 



F.XJ.1. 





1 

 1 



1 



i_ 



Per- 

 cait. 



0.3 

 29.0 



3.0 



0.8 

 33.3 



9.0 



c 



3 



1" 



Per- 

 cent 



3.9 

 iTr. 



0.6 

 14.8 

 47.5 



0.6 



B 



1 



1 

 1 



Per- 

 cent. 



...... 



0.4 

 7.2 

 0.6 

 0.8 



§, 



1 



> 



< 



ANIMAL. 



Predaccous beetles 



Snout-bcetlcs 



other beetles 



Per- 

 cent. 



5.0 



"z.'a 



Per- 

 cent. 

 0.6" 

 0.4 

 3.0 

 0.1 

 0.2 

 4.0 



Per- 

 cent. 



2.0 

 0.3 

 0.5 

 20.5 

 22.5 



Per- 

 cent. 



3.3 

 4.5 

 13.7 

 3.2 

 «6.8 

 10.6 



Per- 

 cent. 



0.5 

 8.8 

 0.4 

 8.2 



Per- 

 cent. 

 0.9 

 0.3 

 0.3 

 0.6 

 33.1 

 1.1 



Per- 

 cent. 

 3.7 

 0.2 

 0.9 



8.4 



Per- 

 cent. 



1.1 

 0.9 

 0.3 

 0.1 

 7.1 

 0.9 



Per- 

 cent. 

 1.7 

 3.4 

 2.7 

 2.5 

 16.1 

 5.4 



Grasshoppers 





other insects 



Total animal 

 food 



VEGETABLE. 



liraiii 



1.0 



9.4 



8.3 



45.8 



75.4 



62.1 



12.9 



67.4 



36.3 



9.0 



13.2 



10.4 



31.8 



90.6 



77.1 

 14.6 



53.2 

 1.0 



21.0 

 3.6 



32.7 

 5.2 



71.9 

 15.2 



29.8 

 2.S 



48.1 

 15.6 



85.4 

 5.6 



71.8 

 15.0 



81.7 

 7.9 



CO. 3 

 7.9 



Other vegetjiblc 

 food 



Tot^il vegeta- 

 ble food... 





90.6 



91.7 



54.2 



24.6 



37.9 



87.1 



32.6 



(i3.7 



91.0 



1 

 86.8 89.6 



68.2 



' Ontario Observer, June 3, 1899. 



