1881. ] Entomology. 67 
which occurs in the late summery and early autumnal months, 
these insects being almost entirely substituted for Coleoptera, 
Hemiptera and Arachnida. The Coleoptera of the six preceding 
months averaged twenty-seven per cent. of the food, while this 
order amounts to but three per cent. in August and September. 
The Orthoptera of the foregoing months averaged but fourteen 
per cent., while those of the two months in question rise to fifty- 
- four per cent. As a consequence of this seasonal change, the 
most important general averages for the year given in the table on 
page 234 of the October Lxtomologist, should be amended as _ 
follows : 
The Coleoptera drop from twenty-five per cent. to twenty, 
the Harpalidz lose one per cent, and the Scarabeide two per 
cent.; Hemiptera, Arachnida and Myriapoda each also drop one 
per cent.; Orthoptera rise from twelve per cent. to twenty-one, 
and Lepidoptera from twenty-four per cent. to twenty-six. e 
grand total of injurious elements stands, as amended, at fifty- 
one per cent., and of beneficial elements at twenty-three. It is 
evident from the foregoing, that Orthoptera and smooth cater- 
pillars are the favorite food of this bird, and as the first of these 
remain abundant until frost, it is not likely that the food of Oc- 
tober is much less favorable to the bird than that of Septerhber. 
The two specimens taken in the former month were well filled 
with winged ants—Pyrof. S. A. Forbes, Nermal, Ill. 
[Prof. Forbes is carrying on a-most important work in his sys- 
tematic studies on the food habits of birds. He is really making 
the first serious and accurate study of the subject attempted in 
this country, and the results in the end cannot fail to set at rest 
many of the questions constantly raised by the ornithophiles on 
the one hand and the fruit and grain growers on the other. The 
question is one that interests alike the entomologist, the ornith- 
ologist and the husbandman. It will be well to remark that im 
the October number of the Exéomologist alluded to in the above 
communication, which is supplementary thereto, the totals in his _ 
table summarizing the observations made, were as follows: 
SUMMARY OF THE FOOD OF THE BLUE-BIRD, 
4 = | pe SRT ee es Ee ES g : | 
clo) eli FI S/S/Pl RB s/s isi sig. 
SIE IS (</2/S/S(<)4]0)4/8 a ieg 
tants | toe ; 
No. of Specimens Examined. to} 2r |} 13} 9 | 10} 9 f a Bi i $s 
| Bo 
: peeeremer |. 
KINDS OF FOOD. “Number of specimens and Ratios in which each Element of | 3 
Food was fuund, 2 : 
es 7 | eee 
2 § | Beneficial Elements, , .46| .28 | ar] .35 |.387} .14 me ee PS 
Roe | ot. Ba 
os Injurious phe -41,| 60 | .23 | 55 | -26 | .67 ES 9| £4 
id | nies 
* g 13} 12 [56] .10 | .34| -19 ' é 
Includes 8 per cent. fruit, a 
