62 



POOD OP THE PLYCATCHEKS. 



is that the remains of chinch bugs (Blissus leucopterus) were found in 

 2 stomachs. In one 12 individuals were identified, and fragments 

 showed that there were many more. In the other stomach they were 

 too fragmentary to be counted, but the bulk of the remains would 

 indicate at least as many. 



Lepidoptera, that is moths and caterpillars, were found in 41 

 stomachs, of which 18 contained moths and 25 held caterpillars, 2 

 containing both. The aggregate of both is 7.73 per cent. No special 

 pest was found among them, but practically all caterpillars are 

 harmful. 



Orthoptera, made up mostly of small grasshoppers of the genus 

 Tettix and its allies and the immature forms of the larger species, 

 amount to 3.91 per cent of the food. It is evident that most insects 

 of this order are too large for such small birds as the present species. 

 The fact that the smaller species of grasshoppers and partly grown 

 young of the larger species are selected would seem to show that these 

 insects are relished but that their size prevents them from being eaten 

 more extensively. They were contained in 16 stomachs, 12 of which 

 were taken in July and August, when most of the grasshopper eating 

 was done. 



A few odd insects, such as dragon flies and some ephemerids, were 

 occasionally taken, and altogether amount to 2.77 per cent of the diet. 

 A cattle tick was found in 1 stomach and a snail in another, both 

 identifiable. Spiders and millepeds were eaten to the extent of 0.94 

 per cent and complete the animal food. 



The following animal food was identified: 



Halticus sp. 



IIYMENOPTERA. 



1 | Agapostemon texanus. 



COLEOPTERA. 



Cicindela sp 1 



Megilla maculata 1 



Sippodamia convergent 2 



Hippodamia 'lS-punctula 1 



Coccinella 9-notata 3 



Adalia bipunctata 3 



Psyllobora txdata 1 



Brachycantha ursina 1 



Languria mozardi 1 



Dermestes caninus 1 



Hister 16-striatus 3 



Hister americanus 1 



Saprinus lubricus 1 



Ips/asciatus 3 



Tharops mficornis 1 



Delopius marginatum 1 



Limonius sp 1 



Corymbiles triundulat us 1 



Agrilus sp 1 



Brachys ovata 1 



Chauliognathus marginatus 2 



Podabrus sp 1 



Telephones fraxini 3 



Telephones Jlavipes 1 



Tclephorus bilincatus 3 



Canthon simplex 1 



Onthophagus sp 3 



Aphodius fimetarius , 9 



Aphodius granarius 1 



Aphodius inquinatus 2 



Lichelonycha elongata 1 



Dichelonycha sp 1 



Diplotaxis sp 1 



Euphoria inda 1 



