ORIOLES. 



15 



plants, and it is not unlikely that they snatch the weevils directly 

 from the plants as well as when flying. 



Kingbird. — Kingbirds, sometimes called bee martins, are common 

 in Texas and Louisiana in summer. They frequent fields and pas.- 

 tures and, like other flycatchers, snap up their prey on the wing. Of 

 the 22 specimens examined in September, G had eaten a total of 8 

 weevils, and, of the 10 specimens examined in April, 1 had taken 1 

 weevil. 



Crested -flycatcher. — These flycatchers are among the larger mem- 

 bers of the family occurring in the cotton States. They frequent 

 timbered tracts and capture their prey usually at some distance from 

 the ground. One specimen taken in September had eaten 3 boll 

 weevils and 1 taken in April had eaten 2. 



Scissor -tailed flycatcher. — The scissor-tails are the largest and also 

 the most abundant flycatchers 

 in Texas, but, unfortunately, 

 their taste leads them to prefer 

 somewhat larger insects than 

 the boll weevil. They do. how- 

 ever, destroy a few weevils, 

 mainly in the autumn. Ninety- 

 one stomachs taken in July, 

 August, and September have 

 been examined, and 5 of them 

 contained a total of 7 weevils. 



Phoebe. — These flycatchers 

 are winter residents over the 

 greater part of Texas, and a 

 few breed in the western part 

 of the State. One specimen 

 taken late in September had 



eaten a boll weevil and 3 taken in November and December had each 

 eaten 1 weevil. 



Alder flycatcher. — This species, which resembles the least fly- 

 catcher in appearance, is a rare migrant in Texas. Three specimens 

 Avere taken in September, 1 of which had eaten 2 boll weevils. 



Olive-sided flycatcher. — This species breeds in the more northern 

 States and Canada and is found only as a migrant in the South. Two 

 specimens were taken in September, 1 of which had eaten 2 boll 

 weevils. 



ORIOLES. 



Next to swallows, orioles are probably the greatest destroyers of 

 the boll weevil in summer, and perhaps their services are more 

 important than those rendered by swallows, for the reason that the 



Fig. 5. — Kinsybii 



