BIRDS IN RELATION TO THE ALEALFA WEEVIL. 33 
looked. Though its animal food is somewhat less than that of most 
of its relatives during the summer, in May, June, and July this bird 
showed a marked preference for the weevil. It was taken more fre- 
quently than any other food item, and formed about 57 per cent of 
the animal food. 
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. 
(Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys.) 
The white-crowned sparrow is a common migrant throughout the 
Salt Lake Valley and breeds in the higher parks of the Wasatch. 
The single bird available for this investigation was secured in May, 
and its stomach contained the remains of one adult alfalfa weevil. 
Though not an extensive insect eater the white-crowned may assist 
in reducing the weevil during spring months. 
WESTERN CHIPPING SPARROW. 
(Spizella passerina arizonce.) 
Only eight stomachs of western chipping sparrows are available 
for examination. One each was taken in May and June, and six 
in July. Of these only one, a bird collected near Salt Lake City, 
in May, 1911, had failed to eat alfalfa weevils. This bird had fed 
almost exclusively on plant lice. The bird taken in June had eaten 
38 of the weevil larvae, composing 98 per cent of the food, while five 
lepidopterous eggs made up the balance. Each of the six birds col- 
lected in July had fed on the insect at an average rate of about 
1 adult and 17 larvae apiece. These composed 76.5 per cent of the 
monthly food, and in one instance comprised the entire contents of 
the stomach, 32 larvae being needed to fill it. The stomach contain- 
ing the smallest quantity (12 per cent) had three- fourths of its con- 
tents composed of weed seeds. Of two birds which were evidently 
feeding young, one had in its bill 6 larvae of the weevil, and the 
other had 8 larvae and a caterpillar. Of animal food other than 
weevils, bugs and spiders were most prominent and the vegetable 
element of 12.6 per cent was entirely weed seeds. 
Too few chipping sparrows were examined to allow a general con- 
clusion, but its habits apparently justify placing this bird on a par 
with its close relative, Brewer's sparrow, in its relation to the alfalfa 
weevil. The larvae of the weevil are suitable both in size and avail- 
ability as food for a bird of this character. Examination of a larger 
series of stomachs probably would show that the chipping sparrow 
feeds on the weevil to the extent of upward of four-fifths of its food 
during the months of the greatest abundance of the insect. 
