BLACKBIRD, ORIOLE, AND MEADOWLARK FAMILY. 59 



SUMMARY. 



In summing up the facts relating to the food of the bicolored 

 redwing, the most prominent point is the great percentage of grain. 

 Evidently if this bird were abundant in a grain-raising country it 

 would be a menace to the crop. But no complaints of the bird's 

 depredations on grain have been made, and it is significant that the 

 grain consumed is not taken at or just before the harvest, but is a 

 constant element of every month's food. As the favorite grain is 

 oats, which grows wild in great abundance, it must be admitted 

 that, with all its possibilities for mischief, the bird at present is 

 doing very little damage. So far as its insect food goes, it does 

 no appreciable harm and much good. Its consumption of weed seed 

 is a positive benefit. Like the other redwings, it has interesting 

 habits and a pleasant song, and for the present, at least, should be 

 protected. 



OTHER REDWINGS. 



In addition to the stomachs of the bicolored redwing, a few of 

 2 other species of redwings have been examined. They comprise 

 16 stomachs of the tricolored redwing (Agelaius tricolor), and 12 of 

 the western redwing (some form of A. phceniceus) . From the exami- 

 nation of so small a number, final data on the food can not be obtained, 

 but so far as the testimony goes, it indicates that both species consume 

 more insects and less grain than the bicolored. The stomachs of 

 the tricolored contain 79 percent of animal matter to 21 of vegetable. 

 The animal matter consists mostly of beetles and caterpillars, with 

 a decided preponderance of caterpillars. The vegetable food is 

 nearly all weed seed. One stomach alone contained barley. * 



In the case of the western redwings, the animal food amounted 

 to 63 percent to 37 of vegetable. The former was pretty evenly 

 distributed among beetles, grasshoppers, and Lepidoptera (moths and 

 caterpillars), and contained in addition a few aquatic insects. The 

 vegetable food was largely weed seed. A little barley was found in 

 one stomach, and one was filled with oats. 



It is evident from the foregoing that the beneficial greatly out- 

 weigh the injurious elements in the food of these redwings. 



BREWER BLACKBIRD. 



(Euphagus cyanocephalus.) 



The Brewer blackbird (PL IV) occurs over most of the cultivated 

 districts of California. By choice it is a resident of fields, meadows, 

 orchards, and about ranch buildings and cultivated lands generally. 

 It takes the place on the Pacific coast occupied by the crow blackbird 

 (Quiscalus quiscula and seneus) in the Mississippi Valley and farther 



