OK A IN k8 WOOD. 1 T) 
the damage is greater than implied by t h«- 6gures. However, it i^ to 
be noted that all of the wheat eaten at this time comes limn fields 
sown broadcast, and that absolutely Dothing is done by the farmers t<> 
protect the seed. The very hi's! protective measure drilling costs 
no more than broadcasting, except for very -mall area-, and besides 
completely protecting the wheat from the birds, it has the further 
advantages that it increases the yield per acre and also improves the 
quality of the grain. 
Joseph Mail Hard, of Sun Geronimo, Marin County. CaL, writes 
(July, L905): 
( irain is drilled in to quite ail extent now, hut the majority of the large grain fields 
are sown with the broadcasting machine on account of greater rapidity. This leaves 
more or le>s main on ;iml Dear the surface, which naturally falls a prey to certain 
species of birds when conditions are right. I should say that the horned larks 
would only attack grain when food was scarce in their own feeding grounds, which 
are usually grass-grown meadows and uplands. 
Lyman Belding, of Stockton. San Joaquin County, who has had 
many years of experience in the California grain country, says (July, 
L905): 
As far as my observation goes there is less wheat planted by drills late years than 
formerly. 
Concerning the depredations of tin 4 larks he continues: 
I can say positively that the damage done by these birds in California is not 
worthy of the least consideration, because the shore larks are not numerous and we 
have millions of acres of wheat. Like our meadow lark and Brewer's blackbird, the 
damage done by them would only be noticeable on a small field of wheal that was 
much later than adjoining w heat fields; but. unlike the meadow lark and blackbird, 
it dors not probe the ground for the wheat kernel — it merely eats a little wheat that 
is on the surface of the ground not yet covered by the harrow in seeding time. I 
have observed them closely in Butte and this county, and am positive the statement 
made above is correct. 
Comparing the above with previous quotations it is seen that opin- 
ions differ concerning the economic status of the horned larks, hut that 
at the present time the consensus of opinion is favorable to the bird. 
It appears that injury from the larks is suffered also in the spring- 
wheat region of the central plains. Charles L. Kino, of Millbank, 
S. Dak., writes: 
There is a bird called wheat bird that comes in early spring in great 
numbers w hen the farmer is sowing grain, and all grain left on top of the ground i> 
very soon picked up. 
T. P. Lindley, of St. A^nsgar, S. Dak., corroborates this bj the fol- 
io wine- testimony: 
The worsl birds we have in Dakota arc Bmall prairie birds. Thej eat wheal while 
it is being sown. They are small, but so numerous that they take one-third to one- 
half of the crop if it is left uncovered lor a day or two. They do not dig the wheat 
out, but pick it up before it is covered. 
