66 THE COMMON CROW. 



The complete, or almost complete, absence of the injurious Heterop- 

 tera forms a very striking feature. In all the stomachs examined only 

 a single specimen of the notorious chinch bug (Blissus letwojiterus) was 

 found, and, unless we assume that this insect is -too small, no explana- 

 tion is offered why the Orow does not feed extensively upon the chinch 

 bug, which possesses a strong odor and is more or less terrestrial in its 

 habits. Excepting the Soldier bugs (Pentatomidge), the insectivorous 

 species of Heteroptera are hardly represented; the Phyniatidse are 

 entirely absent (no doubt on account of their nonterrestrial mode of 

 life), and of the Keduviidae only a few specimens of a terrestrial species 

 were found. 



In the Homoptera the stomachs submitted for examination offered 

 no opportunity for ascertaining whether or not the Crow feeds exten- 

 sively upon the periodical cicada, but from the fact that in a small 

 number of stomachs pupse and imagos of another species of cicada 

 were found, as well as from previous records and observations, there 

 can be no doubt that this insect is not refused. The more or less inju- 

 rious leaf hoppers (families Jassidos, Cercopidse, Fulgoridse, Membra- 

 cida3), many species of which are frequently found on or at least near 

 the ground, are not represented in the stomachs (excepting a single 

 larva of a Fulgorid). 



The only beneficial (insectivorous) family among the Orthoptera, viz, 

 the Mantidse, is represented in our fauna by only a few species, and 

 none have been found in the stomachs. 



No specimens of white ants (Termitidae), the only injurious family of 

 the old order Neuroptera, occurred in the stomachs, while of the emi- 

 nently beneficial families only a single specimen of a mosquito hawk 

 (iEschnidse) and a single specimen of a lacewing fly (Hemerobidge) 

 were found. 



All the families of spiders are insectivorous, but only a few are really 

 useful to man, e. g., the ThomisidaB and the orb-weavers (Orbitelarise). . 

 These are almost entirely absent, and the only family which is well 

 represented (the Lycosidre) has no economic importance. 



No ticks (Ixodida3) were found in the stomachs. 



The insectivorous myriapods are not represented, being probably 

 protected by their mode of life. 



It will be seen from the foregoing remarks that among the principal 

 insect food of the Crow there are only two classes of eminently bene- 

 ficial insects, viz, the ground beetles (Carabida?) and the soldier bugs 

 (predaceous Pentatoinida?). The ground spiders (Lycosidae) and the 

 ants are, in the opinion of the writer, to be classed among the neutral 

 or innoxious insects, which class also includes the dung insects, many 

 of the lamellicorn beetles, and a great many of the other insects found 

 in smaller numbers in the stomachs. All the rest belong to the injuri- 

 ous insects, notably the grasshoppers, May beetles (including some 

 allied genera), the click beetles (Elateridae), the weevils (Bhyncho* 



