Popular science 



269 



not digging like the rook. The average length of the pheasant's 

 beak is 20-23 mm., whereas that of the rook is 52—53 mm. 

 The measurements taken are from the tip of the beak to the 

 commencement of the skin, irrespective of whether feathered 

 or not. 



It is now over five years since we set forth the results 

 obtained from an examination of the stomach contents of one 

 hundred and eighty-three birds, 1 and we need not here repeat 

 them ; but it is necessary to state that each subsequent year 

 has confirmed these, so that in May 191 7 we were able to 

 summarise and definitely state the percentages of food that 

 constitute this bird's food. 2 This is now set forth in detail 

 for each month of the year (Table I), and diagrammatically 

 summarised in figs. 1 and 2. 



Table I.— Showing the Percentages of the Various Foods 



CONSUMED BY THE PHEASANT FROM JANUARY TO DECEMBER 



The particular items are worthy of some consideration. 

 Firstly, we notice that the total vegetable food consumed in 

 a year is 62*6 per cent, and the animal food 37*4 per cent. 

 The total average percentage of grain is 2*4. In August it is 

 3*5 per cent., 4 in September, 3 in October, 3-5 in November, 



18 



1 Journ. Land Agents' Soc. 191 3, vol. xii. pp. 583-6. 

 1 Ibid. 1917, vol. xvi. pp. 249-55. 



