BLACKBIRD, ORIOLE, AND MEADOWLARK FAMILY. 69 



caterpillars and other leaf -haunting insects. When fruit trees are in 

 bloom they are constantly busy among the blossoms, and probably 

 save many of them from destruction. 



For the investigation of the food of the Bullock oriole 162 stomachs 

 were available. They were taken in the five months from April to 

 August inclusive, and probably give a very fair idea of the food for 

 those months. Analysis of the contents shows about 79 percent of 

 animal matter to 21 of vegetable. 



Animal food. — The animal food consisted mainly of insects, with a 

 few spiders, a lizard, a mollusk shell, and eggshells. Beetles amounted 

 to 35 percent, and all except a few ladybugs (Coccinellida?) were 

 harmful species. The coccinellids were found in 9 stomachs, but the 

 percentage was insignificant. Many of the beetles were weevils, and 

 quite a number belonged to the genus Balaninus, which lives upon 

 acorns and other nuts. Ants were found in 19 stomachs, and 1 

 contained nothing else. Hymenoptera other than ants were found 

 in 56 stomachs, and entirely filled 2 of them. Including the ants, 

 they amount to nearly 15 percent of the food of the season. The 

 month of maximum consumption was April, when they reached over 

 29 percent of the monthly food. 



One of the most interesting articles of food in the oriole's dietary is 

 the black olive scale (Saissetia olese). This was found in 45 stomachs, 

 and amounted to 5 percent of the food. In one stomach these scales 

 formed 87 percent of the contents; in another, 82; and in each of 

 two others, 81 percent. In one of these 30 individual scales could 

 be counted. Scales were evidently a standard article of diet. They 

 were eaten regularly in every month of the oriole's stay except April. 

 Hemiptera other than scales are eaten quite regularly. They amount 

 to a little more than 5 percent of the food. The month of greatest 

 consumption was July, when they formed over 13 percent. They 

 were mostly stinkbugs, leafhoppers, and tree hoppers. Plant lice 

 (Aphididse) were found in one stomach. 



Lepidoptera, in the shape of moths, pupaB, and caterpillars, are the 

 largest item of the oriole's animal food. April, the month of the 

 bird's arrival from the South, is the month of greatest consumption, 

 nearly 63 percent. The month when the fewest are taken is July, 

 not quite 8 percent. This also is the month when the Baltimore 

 oriole eats the fewest caterpillars. For the Bullock oriole the average 

 consumption during its summer stay is a little more than 41 percent 

 against 34 percent by the Baltimore. Perhaps the most interesting 

 point in connection with the Lepidoptera is the eating of the pupse 

 and larvae of the codling moth (Carpocapsa pomonella). These were 

 found in 23 stomachs, which shows that they are not an unusual 

 article of diet. No less than 14 of the pupa cases were found in one 

 stomach, and as they are very fragile, many others may have been 



