BLACKBIRD, ORIOLE, AND MEADOWLARK FAMILY. 61 



In the laboratory investigation of this bird's food 312 stomachs 

 were available. They were collected in every month in the year, 

 and represent fairly the fruit and grain growing sections of the State 

 from Santa Rosa southward. Many were taken in orchards and 

 gardens when in the act of pilfering fruit or other products of hus- 

 bandry. Besides adults, 29 nestlings of various ages are represented. 

 The first analysis of the stomach contents gives 32 percent of animal 

 matter to 68 of vegetable. The animal food consists of insects, spi- 

 ders, sow bugs, snails, and eggshells. 



Animal food. — The animal food attains its maximum in April, 

 when it reaches 82 percent. From that time it slowly decreases 

 until December, when it is only 5 percent, and then rises toward its 

 maximum. The increase is very sudden from March to April. Bee- 

 tles constitute over 11 percent of the food, and of these 2.5 percent 

 are predatory ground beetles (Carabidse). April is the month of 

 greatest consumption of beetles, 29 percent, but no carabids are 

 eaten in this month. In June 22.5 percent of beetles are eaten, of 

 which 12 percent are carabids. The amounts eaten in other months 

 are insignificant. The great bulk of the beetles eaten are the dark- 

 ling beetles (Tenebrionidse), which have much the same habit of 

 living on the ground as the carabids, and are probably more abun- 

 dant in California. One stomach was entirely filled with them. A 

 few click beetles (Elateridas) and some weevils were also eaten. 



Hymenoptera (wasps, bees, and ants) were eaten to the extent of 

 1.7 percent of the food. Evidently blackbirds are too slow to catch 

 often such agile creatures as wasps and bees. Hymenoptera were 

 eaten in every month from March to November, inclusive. In June 

 they amount to something over 7 percent, which is the maximum. 



Bugs (Hemiptera) of various kinds are eaten from April to Novem- 

 ber to a small extent. They aggregate somewhat more than 1 per- 

 cent for the year. In the month of greatest consumption, June, 

 they reach only 5.5 percent. They belong mostly to the families of 

 stinkbugs (Pentatomidse) and shield bugs (Scutelleridse). A black 

 olive scale was found in one stomach. Flies (Diptera) were eaten 

 to a slight extent from April to July inclusive, with a trace in Octo- 

 ber. The total for the year is only a little more than 1.5 percent. 

 Like bees and wasps, flies are probably too quick to be easily caught. 



Caterpillars and pupae (Lepidoptera) reach the highest percentage 

 of any item of animal food. They amount to nearly 12 percent, and 

 are eaten in every month. April is the month when most are taken, 

 over 38 percent, and the record for May stands nearly as high. They 

 belong largely to the owlet moths (Noctuidae), which comprise many 

 of those pests generally known as cutworms. The cotton bollworm, 

 or corn-ear worm {Heliothis obsolete), was identified in 10 stomachs, 

 and was probably contained in many more, but in a condition that 



