FOOD HABITS OF THRUSHES. 9 
VEERY AND WILLOW THRUSH. 
(Hylocichla fuscescens fuscescens and Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola.) 
The veery is distributed over the eastern portion of the United 
States during migration and breeds in the Northern States as far 
south as Pennsylvania, and in New England and Canada. In win- 
ter it disappears almost entirely from the country, only a few re- 
maining in Florida and perhaps in other Southern States. Its 
western representative is the willow thrush. Like other thrushes, 
birds of this species are shy and retiring in disposition, keeping for 
the most part in the shade of woods or bushy swamps, or building 
nests in a damp ravine with a brook gurgling past. They have been 
known, however, to visit orchards and sometimes gardens which are 
not kept too trim. It is thus evident that the food has little direct 
economic interest, as this bird does not come in contact with the 
farmer’s crops. 
For investigating the food of the species 176 stomachs were avail- 
able. They were collected during the seven months from April to_ 
October, and represent 18 States, the District of Columbia, and 
Canada. "The food separates into 57.27 per cent of animal matter 
and 42.73 per cent of vegetable. The former consists mostly of 
remains of insects, and the latter of fruit. 
Animal food—Predacious ground beetles (Carabide) amount to 
0.82 per cent. They are evidently not a preferred food. Beetles in 
general comprise 14.67 per cent of the food, but no family or other 
group appears to be distinguished except the Carabide, which are 
conspicuous by their absence. Weevils, or snout beetles, amount 
to 2.49 per cent, and one stomach contained a specimen of the notori- 
ous plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar). A number of other 
harmful beetles were noted, but none are so well known as the plum 
destroyer. Ants make up 10.35 per cent and are eaten with great 
regularity. Hymenoptera other than ants amount to only 3.26 per 
cent, but are eaten regularly throughout the season. Hemiptera 
(bugs) were eaten to a small extent (1.30 per cent) in the first four 
months, but they are not seen after July. Exactly the same may be 
said of Diptera, which total only 0.85 per cent. 
Lepidoptera (caterpillars) are, next to Hymenoptera, the favorite 
insect food. They were eaten in goodly quantities in every month 
except October. The average for the season is 11.91 per cent. Grass- 
hoppers appear to some extent in every month except April, the 
- greatest consumption taking place in October (24 per cent), but as 
only small numbers are eaten in the earlier months the aggregate for 
the year is only 4.91 per cent. A few other insects of various orders 
98551°—Bull. 280—15——2 
