BIRDS OF PORTO RICO. 



93 



represented in the series. In these 36.54 per cent of the contents is animal 

 matter and 63.46 per cent vegetable. Caterpillars, lizards, and beetles form a 

 large share of the animal food, while the vegetable portion is composed of seeds 

 and pulp of wild fruits and berries. 



Animal food. — The mole cricket (Scapteriscus didactylus) was eaten by two 

 birds, though it amounts to only 0.86 per cent of the total, and other orthop- 

 terous remains in three stomachs come to 0.36 per cent. Beetles (3.86 per cent) 

 were captured by four birds. One bird had eaten a cane weevil root-borer 

 (Diaprepes spengleri) and another contained small bits of a wlreworm, the 

 larval form of a click beetle. Fragments of cutworms were present in four 

 stomachs and unidentified caterpillars in six more, which combined give a bulk 

 of 12.25 per cent of the total. Ant remains (0.93 per cent), occurring in eight 

 stomachs, are the only representatives of the great order of Hymenoptera-found 

 in the study of the food of this bird. Bug remains (Heteroptera) (2.64 per 

 cent) occur in only two stomachs. In one of these was an odoriferous stink- 

 bug (Thyanta sp.), a morsel pleasing to an avian palate only. Snails (2.62 

 per cent) were picked up by four birds and undoubtedly figure regularly in the 

 food of this thrush, because of its terrestrial habits. Lizards and tree toads 

 amount to 8.41 per cent and are the only beneficial animals destroyed. One of 

 the lizards eaten was a siguana (Ameiva exul) and in seven stomachs were 

 remains of the common lagarto (Anolis sp). Two little tree toads (Eleuthero- 

 dactylus sp.) were found. An earwig and two myriapods, included as miscel- 

 laneous items, come to 4.61 per cent. 



Though only a trifle more than one-third of its food is composed of animal 

 matter, this thrush is beneficial in its relation to agriculture. The only ques- 

 tionable portion of its food is that made up of insectivorous lizards and tree 

 toads. When, however, the numbers of cutworms, beetles, ants, and bugs are 

 arrayed against these the balance is decidedly in favor of the bird. Moreover, 

 should any of the smaller vegetable-feeding snails be found injurious to crops 

 this thrush would prove an ally against them. 



The following were found in the stomachs of the Porto Rican thrush : 



ORTHOPTERA. 



Scapteriscus didactylus 2 



HBMIPTERA. 



Thyanta sp. 



COLEOPTERA. 



Diaprepes spengleri 



HYMENOPTERA. 



Camponotus sp. 

 Pheidole sp 



hymenoptera — continued. 



Pheidole fallqx var. antillensis 



Solenopsis glooularia 



mollusca. 



Planorois sp 1 



Choanopoma sp 1 



VERTEBRATA. 



Eleutherodactylus sp 



Ameiva exul 



Anolis sp 



Vegetable food. — Though the vegetable food of the Porto Rican thrush amounts 

 to 63.46 per cent, none is of value to man. Berries of the camacey were taken 

 and drupes of a nightshade (Solanum sp.) were swallowed entire. The small 

 fruits of wild figs (Ficus spp.), growing as parasites or as true trees, were also 

 relished, being found in five stomachs, and undoubtedly all the common wild 

 fruits of the island are eaten in season. 



The following seeds were identified : 



Wild fig (Ficus sp.) 



Tabonuco (Dacryodes sp.) 



Bejuco prieto (Paullinia pinnata). 

 Camacey (Miconia sp.) 



Camacey (Miconia prasina) 



Nightshade (Solanum sp.) 



Moral (Cordia sp.) 



Balsamo Colorado ( Hamelia patens) . 



