36 BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA AFFECTING FRUIT INDUSTRY. 



house fly (Muscidae). One stomach was entirely filled with them. 

 Moths and caterpillars (Lepidoptera) appeared in 27 stomachs, and 

 amount to something more than 10 percent of the food. Moths were 

 found in 15 stomachs and caterpillars in 12. This is contrary to the 

 usual rule that in this order of insects the larvae are eaten by birds 

 much more freely than are the adults. 



Grasshoppers and crickets (Orthoptera) are eaten by the Say 

 phoebe to the extent of 14 percent, which is the highest record of 

 any flycatcher except the Arkansas kingbird. These, taken in con- 

 nection with the ground beetles, ants, and caterpillars, indicate a 

 somewhat terrestrial habit of feeding. Nearly 40 percent of the 

 grasshoppers consumed were taken in September, after which they 

 steadily decreased in quantity. One stomach was entirely filled with 

 them. 



Miscellaneous insects, spiders, and a few other creatures make up 

 the rest of the animal food, about 8 percent. Of these, spiders were 

 found in 10 stomachs, dragonflies in 5, sowbugs (Oniscus) in 1, and 

 another unidentified crustacean in 1. 



Vegetable food. — The vegetable food of the Say phoebe amounts to 

 2 percent, and is made up of a little fruit, a few seeds, and some 

 rubbish. One seed and a stem of a fig were the only indications of 

 cultivated fruit. Remains of elderberries were noted in 3 stomachs, 

 seeds in 4, pulp of a large seed or nut in 1, and rubbish in 4. 



SUMMARY. 



The economic relations of the Say phoebe depend wholly upon its 

 animal food, for it eats practically no vegetable matter of any inter- 

 est to man. That it takes a few useful insects can not be denied, 

 but the stomachs' contents show that they are far outnumbered by 

 harmful species, and the balance is clearly in favor of the bird. 



BLACK PHOEBE. 



( Sayornis nigricans . ) 



The black phoebe inhabits the lower valleys of California, and in 

 most parts can be found throughout the year. For a nest site it 

 selects the wall of a canyon, a shed, the overhanging eaves of a barn, 

 or, better still, a bridge. It has a pronounced preference for the vicin- 

 ity of water. Even a watering trough by the roadside usually has 

 its attendant phoebe. 



While camping beside a stream in California, the writer observed 

 the feeding habits of the black phoebe. The nesting season was 

 over, and apparently the birds had nothing to do but capture food. 

 This they appeared to be doing all the time. In the morning, at 

 the first glimmer of daylight, a phoebe could always be seen flitting 



