26 RELATION OF BIRDS TO COTTON BOLL WEEVIL. 



scissor-tailed flycatchers were taken, only 1 of which had eaten a 

 boll weevil. 



Kerrvitte, Tex., September 28-29. — Several fields of cotton at 

 Lacey's ranch, on Turtle Creek, were examined, and weevils were 

 found to be quite common. Twenty-seven individuals were found on 

 10 plants. 



Cardinals were numerous, and 4 were shot in a cotton field. One 

 of these had eaten 2 boll weevils. Two phoebes also were taken here, 

 1 of which had eaten a boll weevil. 



INVESTIGATIONS IN THE WINTER AND SPRING OF 1907. 

 FIELD CONDITIONS. 



The winter of 1906-7 in Texas and Louisiana was unusually mild 

 and generally quite dry. Over most of the cotton-growing area of 

 these States frosts were few and light, and seppa cotton Avas found 

 commonly, in April, even as far north as AVaco, Tex., and Mansfield, 

 La. Such conditions were extremely favorable to the hibernating 

 boll Aveevils, and in portions of south Texas they were more or less 

 active throughout the winter. Large numbers emerged from hiber- 

 nation in March, and during that month many were found feeding on 

 seppa cotton.. Judging from the small number of weevils found in 

 birds' stomachs taken in April, it seems probable that by that time 

 the majority had emerged from hibernation and begun to feed on the 

 young cotton plants. 



Observations were carried on chiefly at five localities in south and 

 central Texas and northwestern Louisiana. A comparison of the 

 relative number of weevils found in the birds examined at different 

 periods shows clearly that the best work of birds is accomplished early 

 in the season-, while the weevils are still in their hibernating quarters. 

 Thus in the period from February 11 to 16 in south Texas, with seppa 

 cotton abundant, 6.6 per cent of the birds examined contained boll 

 weevils; from February 26 to March 9 in central Texas, with the 

 seppa cotton scarce, 13 per cent contained boll weevils ; from March 12 

 to April 11 in south Texas (same localities as in February) 2.7 per 

 cent contained boll weevils; from April 12 to 24 in central Texas 

 (same localities as in March) none contained boll weevils, and from 

 April 26 to May 23, in northwestern Louisiana, 2.3 per cent contained 

 boll weevils. 



SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS. 



Cuero, Tex., February 11-12. — Nearly all fields were plowed and 

 cotton was being planted. Birds were abundant, particularly vesper 



