46 BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA AFFECTING FRUIT INDUSTRY. 



SUM MAE Y. 



It must be evident to the most casual reader that this bird is a 

 valuable asset in the orchard and garden. The great bulk of its 

 food, both animal and vegetable, is composed of elements the elimina- 

 tion of which from the farm is a benefit. As has been elsewhere 

 pointed out, the destruction of insects during winter or in early 

 spring is more useful than in the height of the midsummer abun- 

 dance, for in spring the progenitors of the season's broods are 

 destroyed and with them the possibility of thousands of progeny. 



3IYRTLE WARBLER. 



(Dcndroica coronaia.) 



This is another winter visitant in California. Only 10 stomachs 

 of this species have been examined, but the contents show the pre- 

 dominant food characteristic of the genus. There is one point, how- 

 ever, which is worthy of passing note. One of these stomachs was 

 completely filled with greedy scales (Aspidiotus rapax), with the 

 exception of a small fragment of a beetle ; another contained remains 

 of the black olive scale, and still another some scales not identified. 



TOWXSEXD WARBLER. 



(Dendroica townsendi. ) 



The Townsend warbler, like the Audubon, summers in California 

 only in the mountains. During the migration and in winter it visits 

 the valleys. Like other members of the family it is an insect eater 

 almost exclusively, and does not eat fruit or other farm products. 

 Thirty-one stomachs were taken in the four months from October to 

 January inclusive, in the region from Pacific Grove to Watson ville. 



As our stomach examinations disclose the fact that the food of this 

 warbler agrees closely with that of others of the same group, a fair 

 idea of the diet for the above months is obtained. 



Animal food. — The animal food consists of insects and a few 

 spiders, and amounts to over 05 percent of the food during the time 

 specified. Of this, bugs make up -12 percent, mostly stink-bugs 

 (Pentatomida') and a few leaf-hoppers and scales. The former 

 appear to be a favorite food. Although these insects are eaten with 

 considerable regularity by most of the warblers of this group, they 

 are not usually taken in great numbers, but the Townsend warbler 

 eats many, and several stomachs were entirely filled with them. 



Hymenoptera, consisting of both wasps and ants, are eaten to the 

 extent of 25 percent of the food. Most of them are winged species. 

 Perhaps the most striking point in the food of this bird is the great 



