8 BULLETIN 619, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
The snout beetles, or weevils (Khynchophora), are the most inter- 
esting insects eaten. They were taken nearly every month in fair 
quantities, but in September they constituted over 50 per cent of the 
food. This record, however, is probably due to the fact that special 
pains were taken during this month to collect birds in a locality 
specially infested by one species of weevil. In order to ascertain 
to what extent birds were preying upon the cotton boll weevil {An- 
thon-orrais grandis) 35 stomachs of the eaves swallow were collected 
in September in the vicinity of cotton fields in Texas. Every one 
of these stomachs contained boll weevils, and several contained 
other species also. Of the boll weevils GST individuals were coimted. 
an average of over 19 to each stomach, and it is probable that more 
were really present but being badly broken up could not be recognized. 
Let it be noted that these are not selected stomachs, but embrace 
• every one of this species taken at that time and place. One of these 
contained IS weevils, another 42, two contained 38 each, and three 
others 37. 35. and 33. respectively. Two stomachs taken at another 
time in Mississippi revealed 11 of these weevils. From the above 
facts it is evident that these birds were taking every one of these 
insects that came in their way and probably were making a special 
hunt for them. 
The eaves swallow is particularly gregarious and lives in colonies 
that sometimes contain several hundred individuals. The writer 
has seen a colony of SO nests, and larger ones have been observed. 
It is thus evident that such a colony in the near vicinity of an in- 
fested cotton field would have a very decided effect in restraining 
the increase of this pest. As the weevils are taken when in flight, 
it follows that migration to other fields would be largely prevented. 
Besides the boll weevils. 15 other species of snout beetles were eaten. 
All are harmful insects and liable at any time by some change in 
environment to become pests. The alfalfa weevil (Phytonomus pos- 
ticus) was found in 11 stomachs taken in Utah. This is a recently 
imported pest and is doing much damage in the far TTest. Two 
species of weevils. Sitona flavescens and Sphenopharus pari: id us. the 
one doing great damage to clover and the other feeding upon grass 
and grain, were found in several stomachs. The rice weevil (C al- 
and r a on/za). which does not confine its diet to rice, had been eaten 
by 5 birds. 
Besides the weevils, a number of other beetles more or less harm- 
ful were eaten. 113 species being identified in the stomachs. 
Hymenoptera exclusive of ants I 8.24 per cent) amount to 20.51 
per cent. Ants, mostly the winged forms, were eaten in every month 
except March. The month of greatest consumption (nearly 20 per 
cent) was September. Other Hymenoptera eaten are mostly wild 
bees and wasps, with some parasitic species. The remains of 35 honey 
