The Food of Birds. 
119 
August. 
Twelve birds were obtained in this month, the first on 
the 7th and the last on the 30th, all from McLean and ad- 
joining counties. Three of these were young, but as no 
difference of food was noticed corresponding to age, 
these are not treated separately. 
The food record of August resembles that of June, 
owing, doubtless, to the diminution of the smaller garden 
fruits at this time and to the fact that the wild fruits 
have not yet generally come into bearing. The insect per- 
centages are, therefore, much larger than in July, and it 
is instructive to notice that this increase is first apparent 
and most evident in the ratios of ants — an indication of 
the positive preference of the catbird for this food. Near- 
ly one-lialf of the forty-six per cent, of insects eaten in 
this month were ants. A bee, a gall-fly and an ichneumon 
were noticed among the other Hymenoptera. Forty per 
cent, of the food was caterpillars, a considerable propor- 
tion of which were cutworms. Only six per cent, of the 
food was Coleoptera, and the only predaceous beetle 
taken by these birds was one specimen of C rat acanthus 
dubius. Three per cent, of the food was scavenger- 
beetles, including Geotrupes and Bolbocerus farctus. It 
is in this month that the Meloidse appear abundantly on 
goldenrods and other Composite, but only a single Epi- 
cauta was found in the food of one of these birds. The few 
plant-beetles noticed included a single Diabrotica vittata. 
Seven per cent, of Hemiptera were eaten; largely cliinch- 
bugs, taken by one of the birds. This fearful pest of the 
grain-fields was sufficiently abundant in the vicinity of 
Normal this yea^ sensibly to injure the crops of grain. 
Nearly all the species of birds examined were found to 
eat them to some extent, but in quantities so trifling as 
probably to have little or no effect upon their multiplica- 
ion. It is evident, however, that the birds have no espe- 
cial prejudice against them. The rem*ainder of the He- 
miptera were the ordinary “soldier-bugs”, belonging to 
the genus Euscliistus. 
Orthoptera appear in somewhat larger ratio, amount- 
ing to seven per cent, of the food, an indication, doubt- 
