26 HORNED LARKS IN RELATION TO AGRICULTURE. 
intelligent ami observing farmer in my neighborhood upon whose accuracy entire 
dependence can be placed. 
While going through with the first hoeing of his corn, he observed running about 
among the hills little grayish birds, which, from hi> description and from the 
absence o| any similar bird with which it could be easily confounded, I have no 
doubt was the present species. I'p"" observing One of them more attentively, he 
became interested in watching its operations. Running along near the hills, it 
stopped abruptly from time to time opposite a hill and stood still as if listening; 
then, having apparently determined its direction, it inserted its bill at a short dis- 
tance from a spear of corn, and by a rapid rotary motion partially buried itself in 
the loose earth, and then jerking backward dragged out a large grub, which from 
it- situation may be reasonably supposed to be one of those larva-, of which there 
are several different kinds, known by the name of cutworms. Taking this worm in 
its bill, it ran along until by its acute sense of hearing or by some other instinct it 
became aware of the presence of another of its insect prey. Then laying down the 
one previously obtained it quickly dislodged another in the same manner, and seis- 
ing them both in its bill again pursued the search. Having obtained as many as it 
could carry, it flew off to the neighboring grass field, having in all probability a 
brood of young awaiting its arrival. Not infrequently one of these small birds 
would carry off four or five L r rubs at once, often having to lay them down and take 
them up several times before it could get secure hold of them all. 
When we consider how common these birds are, it is easy to conceive that they 
j n ust destroy an inline use number of larvae in the course of the season. 
While writing this article 1 have obtained several specimens of this kind of bird, 
both male and female, for the purpose of identifying the species with certainty. 
Upon examining the contents of the stomach. I found in most of them several grains 
resembling hulled oats, and in one of them was a larva nearly 1 inch in length, of a 
pale-green color, with a brown head and tapering a little at each end. being differ- 
ent from the cutworm, but resembling and perhaps identical with the spindle 
worm, so called, which burrows into the stem of the corn plant It would be a 
curious fact if it should prove that the bird possesses the instinct to detect and 
destroy two noxious Larva? so different in appearance and habits as those here 
mentioned. 
Thus does this shy and unobtrusive little bird perform its humble but useful part 
in the economy of nature, and while seeking a subsistence for itself and young 
unconciously renders an important service to the husbandman. 
Next in importance to the beetles as an element of the horned lark's 
food are l>u<j - s.* Eggs, young, and adults are eaten, and representa- 
tives of L2 families of these insects had been consumed by the birds 
examined. Practically all the bugs eaten are injurious, some of them 
especially so. The tarnished plant bug [Lygvs pratensia) (tig. 9), 
which i-> verv destructive to all orchard fruits and to strawberries, 
and the green tree bug {Nezara hilaris)^ one of the offensive stink- 
bugs sometimes found on grapes, are devoured. The chinch bug 
{IUissns leucopterus) (fig. 10 ). among the worst of all Insect pests, was 
eaten in Match. May. and June. The losses caused by this Insect 
have been estimated for single years throughout it^ range at above a 
hundred million dollars. One stomach of a horned lark collected in 
May contained 34 entire chinch bugs and fragments of L6 more, or a 
total of 50 eaten in a morning. 
