ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE STARLING. 33 
tively. A resident of Rochelle Park, N. J., who is well acquainted 
with the starling, asserted that for several years past these birds 
had taken toll from his fields. Others also have seen the starlings, 
while part of a mixed flock, actually feeding on the ears of corn. 
Damage to field corn was reported less frequently than to sweet 
corn, and the reports were subject to the same errors of identification 
_of birds. On one farm west of West Caldwell, N. J., the starling was 
bitterly criticized for its work on a 2 to 3 acre patch. Some time 
was spent observing the bird visitants to this field, and it was found 
that English sparrows were busily engaged in tearing down the 
husks for an inch or two, as far as their strength allowed, and eating 
the terminal kernels. 
In the vicinity of Freehold, N. J., where a large starling-grackle 
roost was located, flocks of starlings were common about the middle 
of September in the near-by cornfields. Many of the birds would 
perch on the top of the cornstalks and sing, fully as many would 
be on the ground apparently in search of insects, and a few could 
be noted pecking the ends of the ears. One field of several acres 
appeared to be a favorite resort, and earlier in the year, when the 
corn was in the milk, damage had been done there. The proprietor 
asserted that early in August, when most of. the corn was dam- 
aged, starlings in a large flock visited his field twice daily, morning 
and evening. A count in part of the field showed that of the 522 
ears examined 136, or more than 26 per cent, had been visited by 
birds. Over half the opened ears, however, showed the unmistak- 
able track of the corn worm. It is highly probable that the birds 
often devoured the insects they exposed in tearing down the husk. 
Another field, northwest of Freehold, which was visited by large 
flocks of starlings in early morning and late afternoon, was carefully 
inspected, and very little bird work was found, but a heavy infesta- 
tion of corn worms had severely damaged the crop. 
A comparison of the food habits of the starlings and grackles 
occupying the Freehold roost in September was obtained from the 
examination of material collected there. Six of the 116 starlings 
had fed on corn, and in the stomach of one, this grain formed 94 per 
cent of the contents, in another 60 per cent, in a third 12 per cent, 
and in the remaining three only 1 per cent each, making an average 
percentage of about 1.5 for the lot. Twenty of the 27 grackles shot at 
the same roost had fed on corn, and in 11 this constituted the entire 
stomach contents. The corn consumed by the 27 grackles formed 
over 76 per cent of their food. With this was over 11 per cent of 
other grain, principally oats. 
To a limited extent starlings were accused of pulling sprouting 
corn, both sweet and field varieties. At Mendham, N. J., it was - 
182334°—21——_5 
