accuracy of these aerial feeders. If & moth was missed on he firs t Scoop 5 
@ sécond attempt would usuelly land it-ih-the swallowt Ss euulalte te: » Stomach 
examination furnished further evidence ofthis feeding ‘abi lity. A well- 
filled tree-swallow stomach was found td contain 62 leef-tier moths, which 
formed 96 percent of the total contents. 
Red-winged “blackbirds were likewise found valuable in controlling 
the larvae anc pupae of the leaf-tier. It was not unusual to find 40 to 
90) of) these: pests ina isingle blackbird stomach, and one contained 65. 
Celery lesf-tiers snd loopers made up 55.33 ercoun of the food of 27 
blackbirds collected around the celery. fields; severel other pests, in- 
cluding many cutworms , Also composed an important part of the diet of the 
redwings, 
Wear the end of the growing season, large numbers of bobolinks stopped 
in the celery area while on their northward.migration after wintering in 
South Americe, ‘They reméined in the fields during the latter half of April 
and ae ae gorging on the larvae and pupae of the leaf-tier. More 
than. 71 percent of the wrens of 14 of these birds collected around the 
celery oe was composed of leaf-tier: Larvae and pupae, as many as 42 
being found in a single stomach. “Every botolink ‘collected had fed exten- 
Sively on leaf-tier larvae, and many had: taken considerable nurbers of 
loopers as well. 
In addition to the four species of*celery-ficld birds mentioned, many 
others were found feeding, to en important. degree, om celery insect pests. 
Among these both the purple and the boat-tailed grackle were outstanding 
for their valuable work on the cutworms. “Dayton ans has continued the 
studies of birds of the colery fields sand-~has: submitted an extensive manu- 
Script on the sutject (not yet published). ; 
In concluding,-it is fitting to quote’ a statement 3/ by three exper- 
ienced and weli-known entomologists who had studied the insect ents of the 
Florida celery ¢rép for several years--E.D. Ball, B.L. Boyden, and 17.£,Stone; 
"In a normal season the birds ere plentiful cnough to keep the celery 
lesf-tier entirely under control in the isolated firlds and those adjoining 
woodlends. In the solidly planted arcas where there is little shrubbery to 
afford the birds protection they appeer in smaller numbers and if the infesta- 
tion is very great there will not’ be birds enough to take care of it. Much 
could be done to’ encourage the birds by the planting of small, shrubby trees 
like the haw or wile plum-along the ditch banks: in the: solidly planted areas. 
It might.even be possible to set aside small strips of a mile or so apart as 
bird: refuges." 
"ose stctements are in cntire agreement with the observations the 
writers have made during the course of extended. ficld: studies in agricultural 
eas. ly apo enly a few of.meny examples thet could be given to show the 
economic value of birds and the help APS. render in controlling inssct de- 
predations. 
6/ Florida Expt, Stax, Bulaiey 250," p. abl, 9S2. 
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