. Birds of California in Relation to the Fruit Industry . ering oaks, rather than the orchard or thevicinity of towns or ranch buildings. For the investigation of the kingbirds food 78 stomachs wereavailable. Most of them were taken from March to July inclusive,but a few in September, October, and December. The birds yearlyfood is made up of 87 percent of animal matter to 13 percent ofvegetable. Animal food.—The animal food is composed of insects and a fewbones of a batrachian (tree frog or salamander). Both the easternand western kingbirds have been accused of destroying honey bees(Apis melli
. Birds of California in Relation to the Fruit Industry . ering oaks, rather than the orchard or thevicinity of towns or ranch buildings. For the investigation of the kingbirds food 78 stomachs wereavailable. Most of them were taken from March to July inclusive,but a few in September, October, and December. The birds yearlyfood is made up of 87 percent of animal matter to 13 percent ofvegetable. Animal food.—The animal food is composed of insects and a fewbones of a batrachian (tree frog or salamander). Both the easternand western kingbirds have been accused of destroying honey bees(Apis mellifera) to a harmful extent. It is said that the birds lingerabout the hives and snap up the bees as they return home laden withhoney. Remains of honey bees were searched for with special care,and were found to constitute 5 percent of the food. Thirty-oneindividuals were discovered in 5 stomachs. Of these, 29 were drones,or males, and 2 were workers. In 3 stomachs containing males therewas no other food, and when it is borne in mind that there are thou-. 4 AjttenlCoBttioiire Arkansas Kingbird 1 LY< \ i« : i LMILY. lands of worker bees to one drone, if appears thai the latter must beparefulh selected. As a rule, the destruction of drons is not an (njurv to the colon). and often i*- n positive benefit. The I I of the eastern kingbird shows practically the same ratio between drones andirorkers. I [ymenoptera other than bone) bees amount to 38 percent,and include wild bees, wasps, and ants, with a few parasitic latter are ver) useful insects, and their destruction is an injur).Inn fortunately the kingbird is not especiall) fond of late Walter Bryant, of Santa Rosa, < Jalif., Bays: Mr. A. Barnett, of San Diego County, had 300 swarms «.i bees, which attracted thelycatchers to such an extent thai he made some investigation! to ascertain to wlnt■xtent the) mighl be damaging the bee Industry. r loo flycatchers were dissected, principally Arkansas flyc
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