WAEBLEKS. 47 



number of weevils or snout-beetles represented. They amount to over 

 20 percent of the food, while all other beetles form less than 1 percent. 

 The greater number of these insects were of the species Diodyrhyn- 

 chtis byturoides, a weevil which destroys the staminate blossoms of 

 coniferous trees. Five stomachs contained, respectively, 68, 65, 53, 

 50, and 35 of these beetles, or 271 in all. Moreover, each of these 

 stomachs contained fragments which could not be satisfactorily iden- 

 tified; probably these were the same species, so that the total con- 

 tained in the 5 stomachs is probably nearer 300. Several other 

 stomachs contained fewer of these weevils. Representatives also of 

 another family of snout-beetles very destructive to timber were pres- 

 ent in a few stomachs. These were the engravers (Soolytidse), which 

 lay their eggs beneath the bark of trees, where they hatch, and the 

 larvae bore in every direction. Caterpillars and a few miscellaneous 

 insects and some spiders make up the remainder of the animal food. 



Vegetable food. — The vegetable matter, which amounts to less than 

 5 percent of the whole, consists of a few seeds and leaf galls. As the 

 galls in most cases contained small larva? it is a question if they 

 should not be reckoned as animal food. 



SUMMARY. 



While this can be considered as only a preliminary study of the 

 food of the Townsend warbler, the thoughtful reader can not fail to 

 be impressed by the fact that this bird exhibits some very valuable 

 economic traits, especially in its relation to the forest. The stomachs 

 containing the pine-eating weevils were from birds killed in the pine 

 forests of Pacific Grove, near Monterey, as also were those containing 

 the engraver beetles. Of the 30 stomachs examined, 19 held the 

 remains of weevils, from which it would appear that these insects 

 are preferred as an article of food. As this group of beetles con- 

 tains some of the worst pests of the forest and orchard, any bird that 

 eats them so freely must be considered as performing a most welcome 

 service. 



SUMMER W ARBLER. 



(Dendrqica irstiva subspp.) 



The summer warbler, yellow warbler, or summer yellowbird, as it 

 is variously called, is represented in the West by two subspecies, one 

 of which visits California only as a migrant. The other, which does 

 not differ essentially from the eastern form, is a rather common sum- 

 mer resident throughout the valley and foothill regions. In the East 

 this bird is fairly domestic in its habits, and may often be seen about 

 gardens and orchards, or in rose bushes nearer the house. In Cali- 

 fornia it is not quite so familiar, but is becoming so and probably will 



