SPAKROW FAMILY. 79 



Weed seed amounts to 33 percent of the food and is eaten in every 

 month. It is, however, complementary to the bud and blossom 

 food, the one increasing as the other decreases. Weed seed begins 

 with a percentage of 83 in October, and gradually diminishes, while 

 buds and blossoms appear first in December with 22 percent and 

 increase to their maximum in April. 



Below is a list of species identified, showing the number of stomachs 

 in which each was contained : 



Tarweed ( Madia sativa) 11 



Mayweed (Anthemis cotula) 15 



Bur thistle ( Centaurea melitensis) 18 



Nightshade (Solarium nigrum) 16 



Lupine (Lupinus sp.) 1 



Clover ( Trifolium sp.) 2 



Turkey mullein (Eremocarpus setigerus) 2 



Poison oak (Rhus diversiloba) 30 



Alfilaria (Erodium cicutarium) 16 



Geranium (Geranium dissectum) 16 



Mustard (Brassica nigra) 1 



Rough pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) 18 



Spurry (Spergula arvensis) 4 



Chickweed (Stellaria media) 10 



Catchfly (Silene sp.) 1 



Knotweed (Polygonum sp.) 10 



Sorrel (Rumex sp.) 10 



Brome grass (Bromus sp.) 11 



Sedge ( Carex sp.) 1 



Seeds of conifer 1 



Unidentified 39 



The last item includes stomachs in which the food was ground to a 

 pulp, rendering identification impossible. Few whole seeds were 

 unidentified. Poison-oak seeds are indicated as found in 30 stomachs, 

 but as a matter of fact not a single seed of that plant was seen in any 

 stomach. The birds ate only the wax which surrounds those seeds 

 and which contains certain woody granules by which it can at once 

 be identified. This species, then, does not aid in the dissemination of 

 these noxious plants. 



SUMMARY. 



From the foregoing it is evident that the golden-crown during its 

 stay in California does but little service in destroying insects. On 

 the other hand, it does no direct harm to fruit, and little, if any, to 

 grain. It does good by destroying weed seed, although not as much 

 as some other species. By the destruction of buds and blossoms it 

 may do serious harm where it is numerous and visits the orchards. 



