20 BULLETIX 619, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
matter were found in two stomachs ; in one a bit of a kernel of oats, in 
the other a single seed of carrot. Both stomachs were taken in Cali- 
fornia in August. At that time certain species of ants may be seen 
harvesting the seeds of grass and other plants. It may be that a swal- 
low picked up an ant carrying a seed and so got a bit of vegetable 
food, especially as these birds eat a great many ants. In any cas^ 
the vegetable matter must be recorded as a mere trace, and the whole 
food rated as practically 100 per cent animal matter. 
Beetles constitute 10.57 per cent of the food. 1.46 per cent being of 
useful species. The others were more or less harmful, but none have 
attracted attention by their depredations, although several have at 
times done much damage in isolated cases. In all. 24 species were 
identified, but none of them are familiar. The violet-green swallow 
has not yet come sufficiently in contact with agriculture to feed much 
upon the insects that destroy the farmers' crops. 
Ants (9.42 per cent) were eaten from May to September. Most of 
them were taken in the first three months, nearly two-thirds of them 
in July. All of a series of six stomachs collected at Sunol. Cal., in 
July were completely filled with ants. Wasps and bees (17.48 per 
cent) are eaten in every month of the season except April. A number 
of parasitic species were observed, as well as a few gallflies (Cy- 
nipidae) , but no honey bees. 
Hemiptera constitute the largest item of food (35.96 per cent). 
They are eaten in every month of the bird's stay in the Xorth. the 
fewest in March, the most in September (68.36 per cent). They were 
selected from 12 different families, of which the Jassidaa, or leaf 
hoppers, were the favorites, having been found in 25 stomachs. The 
Capsidas, or leaf bugs, were found in 23 stomachs, the other families 
in a less number. Xo other species of swallow has eaten so large a 
percentage of Hemiptera, and the value of this work can hardly be 
overestimated. Of the 12 families of bugs eaten by the violet-green 
swallow, all but 1 are plant eaters, and some, like the Jassidae, do a 
great deal of damage every year; those like the Psyllidae, the Mem- 
bracidaa, and the Aphididaa are small insects but wonderfully prolific 
and do an immense amount of mischief without attracting attention 
until the harm is clone. Birds that destroy these creatures are cer- 
tainly doing good work. 
Diptera are apparently a favorite food of -the violet-green, as of 
other swallows. They are eaten in every month of the season, 
especially in the spring months, when they constitute nearly half 
the food. From May they gradually dwindle to less than 2 per cent 
in September. The total for the season is 19.36 per cent. The 
great mass of it was of such soft-bodied insects that in many cases 
it was impossible to make identifications more definitely than as to 
order. Craneflies (Tipulidae) were identified in two stomachs. 
