35 



but they were found in only a few stomachs. The great bulk of the 



vegetable food was taken in the fall, winter, and early spring months; 



The following fruit, seeds, etc., were identified in stomachs of thei 



Dwarf sumac (Rhus copallina) 1 



Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) 2 



Poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron) 12 



Poison sumac (Rhus vernix) 1 



Sumac sp. (Rhus sp.) 20 



Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) 2 



Virginia creeper (Psedera quinque- 



folia) 1 



Rough-leaved dogwood (Cornus as- 



perifolia) 2 



Blueberry ( Vaccinium sp . ) 3 



Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) ... 1 



Horse sugar (Symplocos tinctoria) 1 



Virginia plantain (Plantago virginica) 1 



Arrowwood ( Viburnum dentatum) 1 



Elderberry (Sambucus sp.) 4 



Ragweed (Ambrosia sp.) 1 



Fruit not further identified 22 



phoebe : 



Juniper (Juniperus virginiana) 1 



Panic grass (Panicum sp.) 1 



Greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox) 2 



Bayberry ( Myrica carolinensis) 15 



Wax myrtle ( Myrica cerifera) 4 



Mississippi hackberry (Celtis missis- 



sippiensis) 1 



Western hackberry (Celtis occiden- 



talis) 2 



Smartweed (Po lygonum sp.) 1 



Pokeberry (Phytolacca decandra) 4 



Carolina moonseed (Cocculus caro- 



linus) 1 



Fever bush (Benzoin benzoin) 1 



Sassafras (Sassafras variifolium) 2 



Shadbush (Amelanchier canadensis) ... 2 



Blackberry or raspberry (Rubus sp.) . 5 



Wild black cherry (Prunus serotina) . . 2 



Cassia (Cassia sp.) 1 



Food of nestlings. — Among the stomachs examined were those of 

 four newly hatched nestlings, which merit passing notice. The 

 stomachs contained no vegetable matter whatever, but were com- 

 pletely filled with insects and spiders. The largest item was young 

 grasshoppers, which constituted 63.75 per cent of the contents of the 

 four stomachs. Next to these were spiders, which amount to 14.25 

 per cent. Flies, partly in the shape of grubs or maggots, came next 

 with 9.75 per cent. Hymenoptera (wasps) amount to 5.25 per cent; 

 caterpillars, to 4.50; two beetles, one adult the other larval, to 1.75; 

 and parts of a bug and a moth, to 0.75. Note the soft character of 

 the food. The grasshoppers were all young, partly grown, and very 

 soft bodied. The spiders and caterpillars also were soft, the Hymen- 

 optera were somewhat harder, but the only really hard food was the 

 one adult beetle. 



Summary. — It seems hardly necessary to say anything in favor of 

 a bird already firmly established in the affections of the people, but 

 it may not be amiss to point out that this good will rests on a solid 

 foundation of scientific truth. In the animal food of the phoebe 

 there is such a small percentage of useful elements that they may be 

 safely overlooked; while of the vegetable food it may be said that 

 the products of husbandry are conspicuous by their absence. Let 

 the phoebe remain just where it is. Let it occupy the orchard, the 

 garden, the dooryard, and build its nest in the barn, the carriage 

 house, or the shed. It pays ample rent for its accommodations. 



