114 
bollworms are hein^' sought. Probably in most instances it is simply 
feeding on the soft, milky kernels, and the destruction of bollworms 
is more or less accidental. According to Dr. C. Hart ^Nlerriam, of 
this Department, bollworms were found in the stomach of the great- 
tailed grackle {Jfegcujuiscalus major macrourus). Mr. Glover ^' records 
an instance of the common kingbird or bee Yim.Yt\i\{Ti/mnnus tyranniis) 
catching a bollworm moth, and also mentions that bollworm moths 
formed part of the daily diet of some 3'oung mockingbirds, as evi- 
denced by the dismembered wings on the ground beneath the nest. 
]\Ir. L. N, Bonham^ records '"blackbirds" as feeding on bollworms in 
Ohio during a period of drought. While the birds were not actualh^ 
observed with the insects, the evidence presented is strong that the 
larv^ were being extracted from the ears of corn in the field in which 
the birds had settled. 
Although direct evidence of the usefulness of birds in destroying 
bollworms is meager, 3 et it is practically certain that many common 
farm birds destro}^ these among other injurious farm and orchard 
insects. For practical as well as aesthetic reasons, therefore, they 
should be protected and encouraged as much as possible. 
Reference may here be made to the considerable service rendered 
by barnyard fowls in destroying insects. Chickens and turke3^s have 
at different times been observed feeding on bollworms. In one case 
an individual turkev of a large flock in an alfalfa field was observed 
to pick up twenty larv^ in one mmute b}^ the watch, and the distended 
crops of the turkeys of the entire flock gave evidence of the destruc- 
tion of a large number of bollworms. 
The following list of birds occurring in and about cotton fields in 
Texas was kindly furnished by Doctor Merriam. Those species likely 
to feed on bollworms, as indicated b}^ Professor Beal, are marked with 
an asterisk. 
^ Bobwhite- ( CoZmits virginianus and CoUnus v. texanus). 
Mourning dove [Zenaidura macroura). 
* Mississippi kite {Iciinia mississippiensis). 
* Sparrow hawk [Falco sparvenus). 
* Yellow-billed cuckoo {Coccyzus aniericanus). 
Eed -headed woodpecker {Melanerpes erytlivocephaJus). 
Red-bellied woodpecker {Centunis caroUnus). 
Flicker {Colaptes auratus luteins). 
Scissor-tailed flycatcher ( 3Iuscivom forficata ) . 
Kingbird {Tyrannus tyrannus). 
Crested ^y catcher {Myiarchus crinitus). 
* Blue jay ( Cyanocitta cristata). 
* Crow ( Corvus hracliyrhynchos) . 
*Cowbird {Molothrus ater). 
* Eed- winged blackbird ( Agelaius phoeniceus) . 
"Monthly Report, 1866, p. 285. i' Insect Life, II, p. 47. 
