40 



FOOD OP THE FLYCATCHERS. 



the adult moths and 28 the larvss or caterpillars. One stomach was 

 entirely filled with the adults. This is one of the few birds studied 

 by the writer that eats more moths than caterpillars, for as a rule the 

 caterpillars are largely in excess. Naturally the flycatchers, taking 

 their food upon the wing, would prove exceptions to the rule. Grass- 

 hopj)ers and crickets are evidently not a favorite food of the black 

 phoebe, as they amount to only 2.45 per cent. They were found in 

 39 stomachs, but usually the amount in each was small, though 1 

 stomach was entirely filled with them. They were taken in the 

 months from June to October, with a small percentage in February 

 and April. Dragon flies, white ants (Termes), a few unrecognizable 

 fragments of insects, and spiders amount to 5.78 per cent, the balance 

 of the animal food. Dragon flies were found in 63 stomachs, or 18 

 per cent of the whole — the largest record for these insects yet noted. 

 The wonder is that they do not amount to a greater percentage. 

 The following insects were identified : 



COLEOPTERA. 



Elaphrus riparius 1 



Trixna languid 2 



Bradycellus rupestris i 



Tropisternus sp 1 



Lac.cobius ellipticus 1 



Philonthus pubes > 1 



Tlippodamia convergent 7 



Ilippodamia ambigua 1 



Coccinella calif ornica 2 



f'hilocorus orbits 1 



Cryptorhopalum apicale 1 



Ulster bimacuhitus 1 



Saprinus obscurus 1 



Saprinus lugens 2 



Saprinus lubricus 2 



Saprinus fimbriates 1 



CarpophUus hemipterus 1 



JTeterocerus tristis 1 



Canthon sp 1 



Onthophagus sp 2 



Aphodius fimetarius 1 



Aphodius granarius 1 



Aphodius vittatus 2 



Aphodius ungulatus 1 



Aphodius sp 6 



Amphicoma ursina 2 



Gastroidca sp 



Lina scriptu 



Diabrotica soror 



Blapstinus pulverulentus. 



Blapstinus sp 



Corphyra sp 



Notoxus alamedx 



HEMIPTERA. 

 Largus succinct vs 1 



Vegetable food. — Seeds of elderberries were found in 16 stomachs 

 and were probably taken intentionally. Seeds of Rubus (blackberry 

 or raspberry) were found in 1 stomach, seed of dogwood (Cornus) in 

 1, 1 seed of poison oak in each of 3 stomachs, seed of filarec in 1, 

 seeds unknown in 5, fruit pulp in 1, catkin in 1, and rubbish in 6. It 

 all amounts to 0.50 per cent, and certainly has little economic interest. 



The following fruits and seeds were identified: 



Raspberry or blackberry (Rubus sp). 1 



Elderberry (Sambucus glauca) 16 



1 )( igw< h >il ( Cornus pubescens) 1 



Filaree (Erodium sp.) 1 



Poison oak (Rhus diversiloba). 



