Re: Interesting crow behavior!

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <th81@umail.umd.edu>]

At 07:12 AM 6/15/99 -0400, Gus Derkits wrote:
>It may not be primarily insectivory. This type of behavior is used to get
>the formic acid that the ants emit as a delousing agent.
>-Gus Derkits

"Anting", as it is called, is done by many birds (and some squirrels and
even cats, apparently).  The precise purpose is uncertain, but some suspect
the formic acid from the ants does indeed act as a delousing agent.  Talk
about you biological pest control...

(Okay, artists: time to draw _Caudipteryx_ anting!).

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Vertebrate Paleontologist     Webpage: http://www.geol.umd.edu
Dept. of Geology              Email:tholtz@geol.umd.edu
University of Maryland        Phone:301-405-4084
College Park, MD  20742       Fax:  301-314-9661