482 
ECONOMIC RELATIONS OF OUR BIRDS. 
work by feeding more extensively upon the smaller insects. How destructive 
they may be to parasitic insects cannot be said at present. That their whole 
make-up fits them for such work, and that they do occasionally destroy them, 
is certain, but that they feed as extensively upon these insects as upon other 
forms is far from probable. 
11. Reg-ulus calendula (Linn.), Light. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. 
Group I. Class b. 
Of our two Kinglets, Satrapa is perhaps the most abundant. Both are mi¬ 
grants, and during their journeyings through the settled districts, they tarry in 
orchards, among the village shade-trees, in groves, in thickets bordering 
marshes and streams, and occasionally in more open woods. 
Of seven specimens examined, two had eaten four small caterpillars; three, 
five beetles; one, an ant; one, a chalcis-fiy, and two, bits of insects not identified. 
According to others, its food embraces maple blossoms, pear, apple, and other 
fruit-tree blossoms — particularly the stamens. In November, it feeds upon 
numerous black-winged insects which infest orchards (Wils.). Insects, chiefly 
gnats and other diptera (Cooper). Seeds, insects and their larvae (De Kay). 
Minute flying insects, their eggs and larvae (Samuels). A single specimen ex¬ 
amined by Prof. Forbes gave indications of a taste for lepidoptera, scarabaeidae, 
lady-bugs, heteroptera and spiders. I believe that Wilson was mistaken in re¬ 
gard to this species eating blossoms. It was probably catching insects among 
them. 
12. Regulus satrapa, Light. GOLDEN-CRESTED KINGLET. Group I. 
Class a. 
This species passes us earlier in the spring and returns later in the fall than 
the last. The 15th of October, 1877, it was abundant in the heavy timber along 
the Flambeau river. Of nine specimens examined two had eaten twelve small 
diptera; three, nine small beetles; one, five caterpillars; one, a small chrysalid, 
and three, very small bits of insects, too fine to be identified. 
Accoi’ding to others their food embraces larvae, various kinds of small flies, 
and a small black-winged insect which infests orchards (Wils.). Insects, which 
it takes upon the wing and from the crevices of the bark on trees (De Kay). 
13. POLIOPTILA GCERULEA (LiNN.), ScL. BLUE-GRAY GNAT-CATCHER. 
Group II. Class a. 
This species is said to be not uncommon in Wisconsin and to breed in the 
state; Mr. Trippe mentions its occurrence in Iowa but not in Minnesota; and 
Mr. Nelson states that it is a common migrant in Northeastern Illinois. I have, 
however, never met with it. Indeed, it appears to prefer on the whole more 
southern latitudes than ours. Audubon says: it prefers the skirts of woods 
along damp, swampy places, and the borders of creeks and pools to the interior 
of foreste. 
Food: Winged insects, particularly mosquitoes (De Kay). Seizes insects on 
the wing (Aud.). 
