18 BULLETIN 619, U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Grasshoppers, found in 13 stomachs collected in the two months 
August and September, amount to a little more than 2 per cent in 
each, an average of only 0.37 per cent for the year. This indicates 
that the tree swallow does not seek grasshoppers, for 112 stomachs 
were taken in August | the grasshopper month), and even a moderate 
appetite for these insects would have been revealed by that number 
of stomachs. 
Among various other orders represented in the tree swallow's food, 
remains of dragonflies' (Odonata) were found in 25 stomachs, one of 
which contained fragments of 10 individuals. It has been suggested 
that grasshoppers are too large to be managed by such small birds 
as swallows, but a bird that can successfully dispose of dragonflies 
should have little trouble with grasshoppers. Both of these insects 
have harsh, crisp wings and stiff legs, while the body wall is hard 
and not easily crushed. Both have hard, stout jaws, which, remain- 
ing in the bird's stomach, serve to show what kind of food has been 
eaten. May flies (Ephemerida ) were found in 11 stomachs. 
Spiders (Arachnida) were found in 3 stomachs. In one a swarm 
of minute young ones, evidently newly hatched, constituted 99 per 
cent of the food. This may indicate that spiders are not distasteful, 
but hard to get. In one stomach was found a small piece of fishbone. 
an unaccountable item in the food of the tree swallow. These various 
items together amount to 1.61 per cent and close the food account. 
Summary. — In the food of the tree, or white-bellied, swallow one 
point is prominent — in its vegetable food it has no relation to man. 
Every item is wild and of no use. In its insect diet it destroys some 
parasitic Hymenoptera. some carnivorous Diptera. and a few other 
useful insects, but this fault it has in common with most other in- 
sectivorous birds, and in common with them it is engaged in reducing 
the great flood of insect life to a lower level. Let it be protected and 
encouraged. 
Following is a list of the insects identified in stomachs of tree 
swallows and the number of stomachs in which found : 
Lc-itcs sp S 
ORTHOPTKRA. 
Tettix sp. 
HEMIPTEIIA. 
Stictocephalus sp 1 
Bliss us leucopterus 1 
a sp 1 
has sp 1 
coleoptz:;a. 
divina sp 1 
coleoptera — continued. 
Plaiunu.? s a viol at us 3 
Gagnonia pennsylvaniea 1 
Agonoderus calif amicus 1 
Di8coderus robust us 1 
Cnemidotus 12-pimctatxs 1 
Bidessus afjinis 1 
Hl'droporus sp 1 
Berosus striatus 1 
Hetophorus lacugtris 1 
Helophorus sp 1 
Hydrobius mathcicsii 1 
Sphceridium scarabaoides 5 
mi sp 1 
PterosUcl u& sp 1 | Cryptopleurum minutum 1 
Amara sp 3 ' Aleochara bimaculata 1 
