90 BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA AFFECTING FRUIT INDUSTRY. 



to July, inclusive. In June they amount to nearly 15 percent, which 

 is the highest for any month. 



Hymenoptera amount to less than 2 percent. They consist of ants 

 found in 47 stomachs and bees or wasps in 23 stomachs. Hemiptera, 

 or bugs, are eaten to a small extent in nearly every month, but do 

 not reach a high percentage in any. The maximum, 6 percent, occurs 

 in March. The average is barely 1 percent for the year. The favorite 

 kinds appear to be leafhoppers, shield bugs, and stinkbugs. Black 

 olive scales were found in 11 stomachs, and a second species, not 

 identified, in 1. 



Caterpillars are eaten sparingly in every month. The amount for 

 the year is 3.26 percent, and the maximum consumption, 8.5 percent, 

 occurs in March. Pupae of the codling moth were found in 2 stom- 

 achs. Grasshoppers and crickets amount to 2.5 percent for the year. 

 In July they aggregate nearly 16 percent, which is a remarkably 

 small amount for such a confirmed ground feeder as the towhee. 

 They are eaten rather irregularly from April to October inclusive, 

 with a trace in January. The remainder of the animal food, consist- 

 ing of a few flies and other insects, spiders, millipeds, and snails, 

 amounts to a little more than one-half of 1 percent. 



The following insects were identified in the stomachs: 



COLEOPTERA. 



Brady cellus rupestris. Aphodius rubidus. 



Philonthus albionicus. Diabrotica soror. 



Tachyporus calif ornicus. Blapstinus pulverulentus. 



Hypnoides ornatus. Blapstinus rufipes. 



Ptilinus rujicornis. Notoxus alamedx. 



Aphodius rugifrons. Calandra oryza. 



HEMIPTERA. 

 LEPIDOPTERA. 



Saissetia olex. 

 Carpocapsa pomonella. 



Vegetable food. — Fruit was eaten in every month from April to 

 October inclusive, and also in December and January. The total for 

 the year is 4.4 percent of the food. The greatest quantity was taken 

 in June, when it amounted to 9.3 percent. Fruit, consisting of pulp 

 and skins without seeds, was contained in 24 stomachs, Rubus fruits 

 (blackberries or raspberries) in 28, cherries in 4, strawberries in 3, 

 and elderberries in 41. Thus the towhee does no great damage to 

 fruit — in fact, the fruit eaten is mostly wild or that which has been 

 injured and left on the ground. 



Grain is eaten regularly in every month and in a fair quantity. 

 It amounts for the year to about 28 percent. The most is taken in 

 fall and winter, though the variation is not very marked. August 

 appears to be the month of greatest consumption, but it is doubtful 

 if this would hold true if more stomachs were examined, as October 



