22 BULLETIN 621, XJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Other Orthopteea. — Fragments of a few roaches (Blattidse) and 
the odd egg clusters of rear-horses (Mantidae) were the only other 
orthopterous remains found. 
Lepidoptera (caterpillars, moths, and butterflies). 
Lepidopterous remains in the food of the crow are composed almost 
entirely of the larvae, caterpillars, most of which are eaten by nestling 
birds (see p. 60). In bulk this portion of the diet forms only 1.56 
per cent of the yearly sustenance of the adult bird, compared with 
5.31 per cent for the nestling. June is the month best represented, 
when these insects form 6.41 per cent: May is second, with 2.71; and 
September, third, with 2.12. Of the total number of stomachs. 1.310, 
lepidopterous remains were found in 297, and in a few instances 
formed a considerable part of the contents. A particularly note- 
worthy stomach was that of a crow .obtained in Michigan in May. 
This bird had eaten 183 small caterpillars, apparently of the genus 
Crambus, to which belong the grass moths. Another collected at the 
same time and place had its stomach two-thirds full-of caterpillars 
of the same kind. A bird taken in Wisconsin in September had 
eaten at least 50 small unidentified moths, which amounted to 90 
per cent of the food: and in at least 7 other stomachs more than 10 
moths or caterpillars were present. . In only one instance was a 
butterfly identified. 
Cutworms (Xoctuida?) were found more frequently than the larva? 
of any other family. Among these were identified the cotton worm 
{Alabama argiUacea). the army worm (Oirphis imipuncta). and the 
fall army worm (Laphygma fimgiperda) . The large larva? of seyeral 
of the silkworm moths (Saturniida?) were detected, and in a limited 
number of stomachs were those of the tussock moth (Hemerocampa 
leucostigma). the spring canker worm (Paleacrita rernata). and 
eggs of the tent caterpillar (31 alacosoma americana) . 
Field obseryers have often noted the energy with which crows 
hunt for caterpillars during the period when there are callow young 
to feed, especially in regions where an outbreak of one or another of 
these pests has afforded an abundant supply of nutritious food. The 
work of these birds on the army worm in Pennsylyania was recog- 
nized by Dr. B. H. TVarren. who witnessed their actiyities while 
feeding. He reported : 1 
The viscera of 23 crows, old and young, which were captured in different 
counties of the State, and in localities where army worms were abundant, were 
in many instances found to be gorged with the remains of these larva?. Crows 
also ate the pupa?. * * * A crow would eat a handful of the worms at a 
single meal; and the number which a single bird would devour in a day was 
immense. 
1 Pennsylvania State Col. Ann. Rpt.. 1896. p. 212. 
