22 FOOD HABITS OF THE GROSBEAKS. 



The cardinal is one of the birds which assisted in checking this 

 infestation. Two individuals taken at the time had eaten leaf- 

 miners, one having secured no fewer than 10. 



Before the advent of the Colorado beetle, a smaller leaf-beetle 

 (Lema trilineata), which naturally feeds on ground cherries (Phy- 

 salis), turned its attention to potatoes and made itself widely known. 

 Even at present it is by no means harmless in the Southern States. 

 It is encouraging, therefore, to know that the cardinal seems to relish 

 the species, one bird collected in Florida having eaten 14 of them. 

 The cardinal has been reported to feed upon the genuine potato 

 beetle also, by E. B. Williamson a and F. H. Chittenden.* Thus while 

 not preying extensively upon the Chrysomelidse, the redbird at times 

 renders valuable service by eating some of the pests so numerous in 

 the family. 



The cardinal occasionally captures a few other kinds of beetles, 

 such as the darkling beetles (Tenebrionidaa) noted for their nauseous 

 secretions, and the blister beetles (Meloidse), the fluids of whose 

 bodies are highly vesicatory. 



But few additional insects are consumed. One cardinal had eaten 

 a two-winged fly, a member of an order the individuals of which are 

 perhaps more abundant than those of any other, yet which is surpris- 

 ingly exempt from the attacks of birds. Three redbirds devoured 

 fragile mayflies of the kinds that often swarm about the lights of 

 cities. They sometimes eat the larger kinds also, as was observed by 

 Dr. A. K. Fisher, July 4, 1906, when a male cardinal was seen carry- 

 ing in its beak one of the large dark mayflies {Hexagenia bilineata). 



Belonging, together with the insects, to the subkingdom of the 

 jointed animals (Arthropoda) are the spiders and centipedes, which 

 in a small way contribute to the fare of the cardinal. One bird had 

 eaten a centipede, while 22 obtained spiders or their egg sacs. 



Snails and other mollusks were eaten by a great many of the 

 birds examined, namely 112. Whether they were taken for grinding 

 material or for food is a question, but the latter seems more likely 

 in view of the large number devoured. One grosbeak had eaten 

 several small bivalve shells which must have been obtained from 

 water, and another secured a large slug. 



The following note by D. E. Lantz shows that occasionally verte- 

 brates serve as food. 



December 27 [1884], while hunting, I saw a male cardinal grosbeak eating 

 a field-mouse. Several others attempted to take it from him; but were unsuc- 

 cessful. At my approach they left it lying on the snow. It was about half 

 consumed. 



«Proc. Columbus Hort. Soc, XIII, 1898, p. 42. 

 6 Circular 87, Bureau of Entomology, 1907, p. 12. 

 c O and O., X, 1885, p. 29. 



