THE CEOW BLACKBIRD. 61 



The species most commonly found in the stomach belong to the well- 

 known genus Lachnosterna^ or common May -beetle, several species of 

 dung-beetles belonging to the genera Aphodius and Aicenucs, and the 

 wonderfully brilliant Plianmus carnifex. The last is one of the most 

 conspicuously colored of all the beetles, being clad in green, purple, 

 and gold, which shade to crimson with the changing light. Whether 

 these splendid tints attract the birds' attention, whether there is some 

 peculiarly agreeable flavor to recommend the insects as an article of 

 diet, or whether the simple fact of availability from their great abun- 

 dance impels the birds to eat them so freely is yet to be determined; 

 but, from whatever cause, a majority of the stomachs of all the grackles 

 taken in the Mississippi Valley during summer contained at least a 

 trace and often the remains of several of these beetles. 



Curculios, snout-beetles or weevils, are eaten in every month of the 

 year, but, while they are taken in great numbers, the individuals are 

 so small that the percentage of bulk does not rise as high as in the case 

 of the scarabseids. The maximum is reached in June, when they con- 

 stitute more than 5 percent of the total food, with a gradual decrease 

 in the succeeding months. Insects of such small size could hardly be 

 obtained except by diligent search, and their presence in so many 

 stomachs (1,059), and also the large numbers in single stomachs (some- 

 times exceeding 40), warrants the conclusion that they are sought as 

 choice articles of food. The species most often eaten are Epicmrus 

 imhrlcattis^ Pliytonomus punctatxis^ Sitoneshispiduhis, and more rarely 

 Sphenophortis zem and other species of Sphenophorus. Of this last, 

 commonly known as the corn weevil, IT were found in one stomach 

 and 14 in another. 



Many other beetles were found in the stomachs, but, with one excep- 

 tion, in quantities too small to be of much economic interest. The 

 Colorado potato beetle was not present, but several species belonging 

 to the same family were identified. The one exception just referred 

 to is that of the carabids or predaceous beetles. These valuable 

 destroyers of noxious insects are eaten in every month of the year in 

 varying quantities, but with less variability than most other insects. 

 They constitute more than 7 percent of the food in January, attain a 

 maximum of 13 percent in June, and end with one-half percent in 

 December. From these figures it would seem that they are highly 

 prized by blackbirds; but there are other facts that have a bearing on 

 the case. Most carabid beetles are of fair size and easily seen, and 

 man}'^ of them are quite large; moreover, they live on the ground and 

 are much oftener seen running than flying. They are the first beetles 

 observed in spring, and are usually abundant at all times when insects 

 are to be found. Since blackbirds seek a great portion of their food 

 on the ground it is apparent that these beetles must naturally fall in 

 their way oftener than any others, and so are freely eaten, especially 



