94 



BIRDS OF A MARYLAND FARM. 



Euphoria fulg Ida ^ Onthopliagus^ Elateridse, and Curculionidae. The 

 less important element was composed of parasitic wasps, Ma3^-flieSy 

 and grasshoppers (Locustida?). One bird had eaten a snail and one a 

 spider. One had taken mulberries and all had eaten acorns. Mast 

 formed half the total volume of food. None of these six specimens had 

 eaten grain, which usually enters into the blue ja^^'s food to some 

 extent, and in certain localities in New Hampshire that came under 

 direct observation furnished a significant part of it. The blue jay 

 takes about three times as much vegetable as animal food. It appears 

 to do no harm at Marshall Hall and consumes a fair quantity of injuri- 

 ous beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. 



The common crow {Corvus ainei'icanus) was much more numerous on 

 the farm than the fish crow {Cor mis ossif vagus). Four stomachs of the 

 former species were collected. In the case of this bird, which, as has 

 been shown, attacks poultry and grain (see pp. 50 and 05), protection 



Fig. 34.— Blue jay. 



is not desirable at Marshall Hall. Elsewhere the species may do as 

 much good as harm, perhaps even more, but here local conditions 

 make encouragement of its presence incompatible with prudent 

 farming. 



MEADOWIiARKS, BOBOLINKS, AND COWBIRDS. 



The meadowlark {Sturnella magna) is one of the class of highly use- 

 ful birds. It is commonly supposed to be largely vegetarian, but it 

 really takes about three times as much animal matter as vegetable. 

 One-third of this major part is usuall}" composed of grasshoppers, 

 though these insects were not abundant enough at Marshall Hall to 

 enter largely into the food of the 7 meadowlarks collected. Injurious 

 beetles and caterpillars, however, were taken in customary" quantities. 

 The meadowlark, which is commonly regarded as a game bird at 



