accuracy of these aerial feeders. If a moth was missed on the first scoop 

 a second attempt would usually land it in the Swallow' s gullet. Stomach 

 examination furnished farther evidence of this feeding ability. A well- 

 filled tree-swallow stomach was found to contain 62 leaf-tier moths, which 

 formed 96 percent of the total contents. 



Red-winged, blackbirds were like'^xse found valuable in controlling 

 the larvae and pupae of the leaf-tier. It was not unusual to find 40 to 

 50 of these pests in a single "blackbird stomach, and one contained 65. 

 Celery loaf-tiers and loopers made up 55.33 percent of the food of 27 

 blackbirds collected around the celery fields; several other pests, in- 

 cluding many cutworms, also composed an important part of the diet of the 

 redwings. 



Near the end of the growing season large numbers of bobolinks stopped 

 in the celery area while on their northward migration after wintering in 

 South America. They remained in the fields during the latter half of April 

 and early May, gorging on the larvae and pupae of the leaf-tier. More 

 than 71 percent of the food of 14 of these birds collected around the 

 celery fields was composed of leaf-tier larvae and pupae, as many as 42 

 being found in a single stomach. Every bobolink collected had fed exten- 

 sively on leaf -tier larvae, and many had taken considerable numbers of 

 loopers as well. 



In addition to the four species of celery-field birds mentioned, many 

 others were found feeding, to an important degree, on celery insect pests. 

 Among these both the purple and the boat-tailed grackle wore outstanding 

 for their valuable work on the cutworms. Dayton Stoner has continued the 

 studies of birds of the celery fields and has submitted an extensive manu- 

 script on the subject (not yet published) . 



In concluding, it is fitting to quote a statement 3/ by three exper- 

 ienced and well-known entomologists who had studied the insect pests of the 

 Florida celery crop for several years — E. D. Ball, 3. L. Boyden, and ¥. E. 

 Stone : 



"In a normal season the birds are plentiful enough to keep the celery 

 leaf-tier entirely under control in the isolated fields and those adjoining 

 woodlands. In the solidly planted areas where there is little shrubbery to 

 afford the birds protection they appear 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 wild 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." 



These statements are in entire agreement with the observations the 

 writers have made during the sourse of extended field studies in agricultural 

 areas. They are only a few of many examples that could be given to show the 

 economic value of birds and the help they render in controlling insect de- 

 predations. 



3/ Florida Expt. Sta. Bull. 250, p. 11, 1932. 



