20 RELATION OF BIRDS TO COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



the dead leaves and rubbish. Of 9 specimens taken in the fall, 1 had 

 eaten a boll weevil. None of the 13 specimens taken in spring had 

 eaten any. 



Field sparrow. — Field sparrows occur in Texas both in winter and 

 in summer, more commonly, however, in the winter. They are lovers 

 of brushy pastures and weedy borders of fields. Of 7 specimens taken 

 in February and March, 1 had eaten a boll weevil. 



Towhee; chewink. — These rather large sparrows pass the winter 

 in Texas, feeding in thickets and brushy pastures. Of the 6 specimens 

 collected in spring, 1 had eaten a boll weevil. 



UPLAND PLOVER. 



These fine birds, known as " plover " or i; papabotte " in the South, 

 in recent years have been very much reduced in numbers. Breeding 

 in the North from Kansas to Canada, and wintering in South 

 America, they pass through Texas in spring and fall, when great 

 numbers are shot for food. They are essentially prairie dwellers and 

 only occasionally come into the bottomland fields; but wherever the 

 prairies are cultivated they visit the plowed fields in considerable 

 numbers and pick up a great many insects. In fact their food consists 

 almost exclusively of insects and, besides the boll weevil, includes 

 great numbers of other weevils. Of the plover thus far examined, 

 only 13 have been taken in cotton fields. One of these, collected April 

 9 at Columbus, Tex., contained a boll weevil. Forty-eight specimens 

 taken on the prairies in March were examined, but while their stom- 

 achs were filled with weevils of several species and other insects, no 

 boll weevils were found. The fact that the plover are so fond of 

 weevils strongly suggests that if their numbers can be increased by 

 protection, so that more of them Avill visit cotton fields, they will 

 render valuable aid in destroying the boll weevil. Their sj)ring 

 migration brings them to south Texas about March 15, and from that 

 date until May 1 or later they are moving gradually northward 

 across the State. They are thus present at the most critical period 

 in the development of the boll weevil, and every weevil destroyed at 

 this time means a great deal to the cotton grower. Their autumn 

 migration brings them into the cotton districts in August, when they 

 are said to visit the cotton fields in numbers. Further investigations 

 are necessary to show the nature of their food at this season. 



KILLDEER. 



"Killdeers breed throughout Texas and Louisiana and winter abun- 

 dantly in the southern portion of these States. Although mainly a 

 bird of the pasture, they frequently visit plowed fields, and in spring- 

 gather in flocks to feed in the freshly-turned furrows. Twenty-one 





