J 9) BULLETIN 280, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
not further identified, and rubbish make up the rest of the vegetable 
food (8.10 per cent). Among the seeds were some of the various 
species of poisonous Aus. These were found in 18 stomachs, mostly 
from California. The dissemination of these seeds is unfortunate 
from the standpoint of husbandry, but many birds engage in it, as 
the waxy coating of the seeds is nutritious, especially in winter, when 
fruit and insects are not easily obtainable. 
Following is a list of the components of the vegetable food so far 
as identified, and the number of stomachs in which found: 
bo 
Cedar berries (Juniperus virginiana) —~- 
False Solomon's seal (Smilacina race- 
aL O80) ee ee 4 
False spikenard (Smilacina sp.)---~--- 1 
Greenbrier (Smilax walteri) --------- 2 
Cat brier (Smilax bona-nor) _~--__-_--~ 2 
Laurel-leaved greenbrier (Smilagr lauri- 
fOULG) rn: a et BE ee Oe ee il 
Other greenbriers (Smilax sp.) ------~ nual 
Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera) ---_-_-~ il! 
Bayberries (Myrica carolinensis) —~~—~~ © 
Chinquapin (Castanea pumila) ——~_-~~- 1 
Western hackberries (Celtis occiden- 
ECULS)) Ra eas ed, BE ES ena 5 
Other hackberries (Celtis sp.)-----~-- 3 
GT Sa CHCA SIS [sy |e a ee eee 1 
Murlperries ((forus-sp:)]=2-22- = iL 
Mistletoe berries (Phoradendron villo- 
Poke berries (Phytolacca decandra)___ 16 
Miner’s lettuce (Montia perfoliata) ___ 1 
Sassafras berries (Sassafras varifo- 
UAL TIO) Nate ra em ate ORS e SRC Tat Oa 
Spice berries (Benzoin estivale)—__-__ 
CUELANES He (IOCSES) ee ee ee eee 
Sweet gum (Liquidambar styracifiua) — 
Chokeberries (Pyrus arbutifolia) ______ 
Service berries (Amelanchier canaden- 
OO em bo 
ke bo 
Hawthorn, (Crategusssp)))-—__ 
Strawberries (Fragaria sp.) -_---____ 
Biackberries or raspberries (Rubus sp.) — 
OSCR AWS COSA SDs) set renee cnn 
Wild black cherries (Prunus scrotina) — 
Three-seeded mercury (Acalypha vir- 
UNUCO) eee Fs 8 ee ee 1 
Staghorn sumach (hus typhina) _____ D 
Smooth sumach (Rhus glabra) _~_____ 5 
Dwarf sumach (Rhus copallina) tf 
In looking over this list one is 
|} Poison ivy (Rhus radicans)__________ 
Poison oak (Rhus diversiloba) _______ eft 
Laurel-leaved sumach (Rhus laurina) _ 
Other-sumachs =(RWWS spy) 2 ee 1 
Pepper berries (Schinus molle) ~_____ 1 
American holly (Ilex opaca) —~-—______ 
Black alder (Jlex verticillata) ________ 1 
Ink berries: (lex Glaoim) === 
Othershollies4@tlexitsps) === eee 
Strawberry bush (Huonymus america- 
TUS) EES SS eR SSA at hs 
Roxbury waxwork (Celastrus  scan- 
GENS) 22 See aes 2 ae eee 
Supple-jack (Berchemia volubilis)____ 
Coffee berries (Rhamnus californicus) — 
Woodbine (Psedera quinquefolia) _____ al 
Frost grapes (Vitis cordifolia) _______ 
Waldgrapes Wiis" sp!) == eee 
Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) _— 
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). 38 
Rough-leaved dogwood (Cornus asperi- 
fOVIG) ee ee ta 
Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) _-_______ 
Checkerberry (Gaultheria procumbens) — 
Iluckleberries (Gaylussacia sp.) —----- 
Blueberries (Vaccinium sp.) ~-------- 1 
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) —_ . 
Bittersweet (Solanum sp.) —~------___ 
Goose grass (Galium aparine) ________ 
Honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.) _~-__~____ 
Indian currant (Symphoricarpos orbi- 
106 wy Oo O1N bs oe 
= 
Nore Ww OrFRN e 
Ne A POH BDO DO 
CULATUS VE SE eee 1 
Downy arrowwood (Viburnum pubes- 
COVES) oil Ae 1 
Nanny berries (Viburnum lentago) ——-~ w 
Black elderberries (Sambucus cana- $ 
Gensis) =U S22 Se ee eee pe 4 
Red elderberries (Sambucus pubens) —___— 3 
Fruit not further identified__________ 60 
impressed with the fact that the 
taste of human beings for fruit differs markedly from that of birds. 
For example, hus seeds are hard and have little pulp to render them 
palatable or nutritious. They are usually passed through the alimen- 
tary canal of birds or regurgitated unharmed, and the slight outer 
coating alone is digested. In the case of the poisonous species, this 
outer coating is a white wax or tallow which appears to be very 
nutritious, for these species are eaten much more extensively than 
