FOOD HABITS OF THE SWALLOWS. 13 
were identified in the stomachs, most of them harmful and some ex- 
ceedingly so. 
Ants are eaten by the barn swallow to the extent of 9.89 per cent 
of the food, some stomachs being entirely filled with wingless species. 
These were found in 124 stomachs, and in 14 there was no other food. 
Most of them were of rather large size as compared with those taken 
by the flicker and other ground-feeding birds. One stomach, how- 
ever, contained approximately 1,000 small individuals. Another con- 
tained between 300 and 400 of the ant Solenopsis molesta, a small 
species. Hymenoptera other than ants (12.82 per cent) were found 
in 254 stomachs and are evidently a favorite food of this swallow. 
Besides the common bees and wasps were many parasitic forms. One 
male, or drone, honey bee was found. 
Hemiptera formed 15.1 per cent and from the regularity with 
which they occur in the food are evidently very palatable. They were 
found in 192 stomachs, and 16 families were identified. Of these the 
most important are the Pentatomidse, or stinkbugs ; Jassidse, or leaf 
hoppers, of which one stomach was estimated to contain at least 
1,000; Capsidse, or leaf bugs, contained in 48 stomachs; Aphididse, or 
plant lice; and Lygseidse, which are represented by the notorious 
chinch bug (Blissus leucopterus) , found in 7 stomachs. This last 
pest is too well known to require comment. It is well to know its 
enemies. 
Diptera are evidently the choice food of the barn swallow. They 
average 39.49 per cent of the food, or more than twice that of any 
other order of insect, and nearly two-fifths of the whole. They were 
"contained in 338 stomachs, or nearly three- fourths of all, and 33 con- 
tained no other food. In March they constitute 82 per cent of the 
food, and in September, the month of least consumption, nearly 18 
per cent. These insects are mostly allied to the common house fly, 
and were identified in 110 stomachs, but several other families are 
represented. Among them are the long-legged craneflies (Tipulidse), 
a number of horseflies (Tabanidse), and several robberflie's (Asilidse), 
which prey upon other insects and are said to be very destructive to 
honey bees. The consumption of flies by the barn swallow is, to say 
the least, interesting. It is greater than that of any of the flycatchers 
(Tyrannidse) except one and is exceeded by only two other species 
of swallows. Only such birds as are very active on the wing can 
catch many flies. Thrushes and blackbirds get a few, but as a rule 
these are only the craneflies, which move sluggishly and breed in 
colonies where birds can easily reach them. 
Lepidoptera are evidently not greatly relished by the barn swallow. 
The adult insects can hardly be considered a favorite food for any 
species of bird, as most of the lepidopterous food is eaten in the larval 
