FOOD HABITS OF THRUSHES. iL 
Besides fruit, the veery eats a few seeds of grasses and weeds and 
a few of sumac, but none of the poisonous species were found in the 
stomachs. These seeds (7.25 per cent of the food) were eaten so 
irregularly as to suggest that they are merely a makeshift taken for 
want of something better. Rubbish (0.18 per cent), consisting of 
decayed wood, bits of leaves, plant stems, etc., completes the vege- 
table food. 
Following is a list of the items of vegetable food and the num- 
ber of stomachs in which found: 
Yew berries (Taxus minor) —_~_—_—-— LejOtherusumac WRRuUs isp)iLst {oe as 1 
Pigeon grass seed (Chetochlo@ sp.) ~~~ 1 | American holly (flex opaca) = ~~~ — 1 
Rush grass seed (Sporobolus minor) —— 1 | Woodbine berries (Psedera quinque- 
False Solomon’s seal (Smilacina sp.) —_— if LOG) pee Ee JNMVOEY eset 1 
Greenbrier berries (Smilax sp.)_----~- 2 | White cornel (Cornus candidissima) —— 2 
Hackberries (Celtis occidentalis) _____ 1 | Alternate-leaved cornel (Cornus alier- 
Poke berries (Phytolacca decandra) ___ y MUR OULU: saat Se a, ee 3 
Spice berries (Benzoin estivale) ______ 2 | Rough-leaved cornel (Cornus asperi- 
Service berries (Amelanchier canaden- [OWUO) a= PB SSS Dae ee bed > Se 1 
SIS) est ESS RE 9S EE Shs 9 2 eet ea 3 | Dogwood berries (Cornus sp.) ~____ 2 
June berries (Amelanchier sp.) ~~~ -~- 9 | Sour gum berries (Nyssa sylvatica) ___ at 
Mountain ash (Pyrus americana) _____ 1 |} Huckleberries (Gaylussacia sp.) ~~ ___ 1 
Crabvapples (BYnuseSps) 2222. = eee i | Blueberries (Vaccinium sp.)  ~_~_~-___ 4 
Strawberries (Ffragaria sp.)_~-______- 3 | Snowberries (Symphoricarpos racemo- 
Blackberries or raspberries (Rubus sp.) — 8 SAU Si) Boat tM eee kc RR Oia ST Ea ee 2 
Wild black cherries (Prunus serotina) — i | Black elderberries (Sambucus canaden- 
Bird cherries (Prunus pennsylvanica) — 1 SUS) ER eS ae Ly ee Re a ee 2 
Chokecherries (Prunus virginiana) —___ 1 | Red elderberries (Sambucus pubens) —_ 4 
Staghorn sumac (Rhus hirta)-~~--~__ 2 | Other elderberries (Sambucus sp.) ~~~ 3 
Dwarf sumac (Rhus copallina) _______- 1 | Fruit pulp not further identified______ 4 
Three-leaved sumac (Rhus trilobata)_ al 
Summary.—tt is hardly necessary to make a summary of the 
food of this bird in order to bring out its good points, for it seems 
to have no others. The animal food includes less than 1 per cent of 
useful beetles, and the remainder is either harmful or neutral. 
In the matter of vegetable food there seems to be no chance for 
criticism, as nature evidently supplies all it needs. The bird has 
never been harmed, but has been held in high esteem for sentimental 
reasons; let it also be valued and protected for its economic worth. 
GRAY-CHEEKED AND BICKNELL’S THRUSHES. 
(Hylocichla alicie alicie and Hylocichla alicie bicknelli.) 
The gray-cheeked thrush (H. a. aliciw) is found in migration 
over all the Eastern States, but breeds farther north, beyond our 
limits. Bicknell’s thrush (Z/. a. bicknelli), a closely related form, 
while having somewhat the same general range, breeds farther south 
and nests in the mountains of northern New York and New Eng- 
land. Both subspecies have the same general habits as other forms 
of the genus so far as haunts and choice of residence are concerned, 
but their far-northern range excludes them from coming into con- 
tact with cultivated crops. The species does not seem to be very 
