SPARROW FAMILY. 75 



of the seeds identified and the number of stomachs in which each 

 species was found: 



Sunflower (Helianthus sp.) 4 



Lesser tarweed (Hemizonia fasticulata) 1 



Tarweed ( Madia sativa) 23 



Mayweed (Anthemis cotula) 10 



Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) 33 



Bur thistle ( Centaurea melitensis) 243 



Black nightshade (Solarium nigrum) 1 



Turkey mullein (Eremocarpus setigerus) _ 18 



Alfilaria (Erodium cicutarium) 9 



Black mustard (Brassica nigra) 1 



Miner's lettuce ( Montia perfoliata) 2 



Red maids ( Calandrinia menziesi) 1 



Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) 30 



Chickweed (Stellaria media) 3 



Catchfly (Silene sp.) 1 



Knotweed (Polygonum sp.) 2 



Sorrel (Rumex sp.) 1 



Sedge ( Carex sp.) 6 



SUMMARY. 



If there are any faults in the food habits of the green-backed gold- 

 finch, the writer does not know them. The little animal food it con- 

 sumes consists of harmful insects, and practically all of its vegetable 

 food consists of seeds of useless or harmful weeds. This goldfinch 

 should be protected to the fullest extent. 



INTERMEDIATE AND NUTTALL SPARROWS. 



(Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli and nuttalli.) 



One or the other of these two subspecies of the white-crowned 

 sparrow is found throughout the year in some part of California, and 

 in winter the intermediate (gambeli) is distributed nearly all over the 

 lower parts of the State. These sparrows frequent valleys, brushy 

 hillsides, highways, and cultivated fields. The only complaint against 

 them is that in spring and in winter they eat buds of fruit trees. Buds 

 are usually overabundant, and the loss of some is generally a benefit 

 to the tree ; in any event it would require a very thorough disbudding 

 to do much damage. 



For the investigation of the bird's food, 516 stomachs were avail- 

 able, taken in every month of the year, though August was represented 

 by only one, and May and July by two each. The first analysis gives 

 7.4 percent of animai matter to 92.6 of vegetable. 



Animal food. — Beetles amount to 1.4 percent of the food. In June 

 they reach nearly 8 percent, but in the other months are unimportant. 

 Practically all of them are harmful. Hymenoptera amount to 1.9 

 percent. In June they reach over 16 percent, but in the other months 



