FLYCATCHER FAMILY. 



31 



plant. One stomach was entirely filled with tree hoppers and two 

 with cicadas. 



Flies (Diptera) amount to about 14 percent and were eaten in nearly 

 every month. Robber flies were identified in two stomachs, one of 

 which has already been referred to. Most of the others were of the 

 family of the common house fly (Muscidse). 



Caterpillars were found in 20 stomachs and moths in 7. Together 

 they amount to 19 percent of the food. This shows that caterpillars 

 are a favorite article of food with this bird, and proves that it does 

 not take all its food on the wing. While no stomach was entirely 

 filled with caterpillars, one contained nothing but moths. 



Grasshoppers formed about 5 percent of the food, and were mostly 

 taken in May, June, and July. One stomach contained nothing else. 

 As they do not often come within reach of flycatchers, these insects 

 must be especially sought for. 



Various other insects and spiders amount to a little more than 3 

 percent. Among these the two most prominent were dragonflies and 

 Raphidia. These last are small insects with remarkably long necks, 

 and as they prey upon other insects and are said to feed upon the 

 larvae of the codling moth, their destruction by birds is to be deplored. 

 Spiders are eaten by the ash-throat quite regularly, but not exten- 

 sively. Apparently, most birds take spiders when found, but do not 

 seek for them. 



Vegetable food. — Vegetable food was found in 9 stomachs. Of these, 

 5 contained remains of elderberries; 2, bits of other small fruit; and 

 2, skins which might have been those of cultivated varieties. The 

 total for the year is 8 percent. 



Feeding of young. — Besides the examination of stomachs of the 

 ash-throated flycatcher, observations were made upon the feeding of 

 a nest of young situated in the cornice of an abandoned ranch house. 

 The nest contained four young about a week old when first discovered. 

 The number of feedings and times of observations are given in the 

 following table: 



Date. 



Hours in 

 forenoon. 



Number 

 of feed- 

 ings. 



Hours in 

 afternoon. 



Number 

 of feed- 

 ings. 









12.59-1.59 

 2. 07-3. 07 

 2. 13-3. 13 

 5.56-6.26 

 (half-hour.) 



9 

 9 



18 

 6 



June 22 



10.48-11.48 



14 



June 26 



Do 







June 27 



5. 15- 6. 15 

 11. 27-12. 27 

 5.26- 6.26 



28 

 9 

 16 



Do 



4. 47-5. 47 



9 



June 28 









