INSECTIV0K0U8 HABITS OF THE ENGLISH SPAEEOW (Passer domcsticus).. 



By C. V. Riley. 

 REPORT OF MATERIAL EXAMINED IN 18S7. 



The facts contained in this report are based upon the stomach con- 

 tents of the English Sparrow submitted by Dr. C. Hart Merriam for 

 examination and opinion, these having been separated by him from a 

 much larger number (522 in all) examined in the Ornithological Divis- 

 ion and found to contain no insects. By stomach contents is included 

 not only what is taken from the crop, but also that taken from the gul- 

 let and the mouth. I have first given a list of the specimens examined 

 according to Dr. Merriam's card catalogue number and including the 

 insect material examined and identified. ^Text I have given a succinct 

 statement of the habits of the insects concerned, arranged according 

 to orders, and finally a summarization of the results, and a survey of 

 other work in the same line both in Europe and America. 



My method of examination has been, first, to have the material care 

 fully examined by some one of my assistants according to their special 

 knowledge, and particularly by Mr. Otto Lugger and Mr. Th. Pergande, 

 and then to verify their determinations and to study and determine 

 more closely whatever was questionable or undeterminable. In this 

 way the accuracy of the determinations has been fully assured, and I 

 have not been under the necessity of appealing to specialists outside of 

 the Division. A determination is sometimes based on a mere fragment, 

 and in all cases where an interrogation still remains it is because of the 

 imperfect condition of the specimens, which would make specific refer- 

 ence little more than guess-work. To the gentlemen mentioned, as also 

 to Mr. Barrows and Dr. Fisher, of the Division of Ornithology, I take 

 this occasion to express my thanks for aid and interest shown in the 

 work. 



STOMACH CONTENTS. 



No. 16.— Young male; July 7, 1885, Sing Sing,N. Y. Contents: Two chrysomehd 

 larva) (small larvae of unrecognizable species). 



No. 97.— Adult female; July 25,1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: One snout-beetle 

 (SphenojJhorus zeo&) ; wings of a small Ckrysomelid, and jaws of a caterpillar. 



No. 123.— Adult female; July 28, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: Remains of a 

 small bymenopterous insect and pieces of one Apiiodius sp. 



No. 152.— Young male; August 4, 1885, Sing Sing,N. Y. Contents: Three Hymen- 

 optera, (My zine 6-cincta) ; one large locust (Caloptenus differentialis) ; two pupae of small 

 locusts (Calojptenus sp.). 



No. 195.— Adult male; August 10, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y., three young Ortboptera, 

 viz, Xiphidium sp., Caloptcnus sp., Tettix sp., one Colasjpis jlavida. 



No. 196.— Young male ; August 10, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents : Two snout- 

 beetles (Sitones sp.). 



No. 201.— Adult female; August 10, 1885, Sing Sing, N. Y. Contents: Very small 

 pieces of a curculionid beetle. 



Ill 



