190S. The British Associatioft in Dublin, 237 



Sanderling {Calidris annaria). He had now stroug evidence to show that 

 this bird is found in adult phimage through the breeding season on the 

 Dublin coast. The observations of Mr. A. Williams, made in July, 1906, 

 jH this locality, on the vSanderling were of interest, as there was an un- 

 iisually large gathering of adult birds recorded. In many ways the 

 Turnstone repeated the migratory movements of the Sanderling, an 1 was 

 found throughout the year in adult plumage on the Dublin coast. The 

 author, moreover, had dissected the genitals of this bird, shot at the 

 height of the breeding season on the Dublin coast, and had found quite 

 ripe ova. He believed the time would come when the Turnstone would be 

 discovered breeding on the Irish sea-board, or perhaps along the shores 

 of inland lakes. The movements of the Little vStintwere apparently 

 irregular — a few pairs usually appeared during some autumn seasons, 

 but in 1902 he had records of flocks from the locality in question. 

 Reference was also made and personal observations described of the ex- 

 traordinary tameuess of certain shore-birds on their first arrival on the 

 Dublin coast, such species often only remaining a few days. 



AN INQUIRY INTO THE FEEDING HABITS OF BRITISH 

 ^ BIRDS. 



BY C. GORDON HEWITT, M.SC. 



It is becoming increasingly difficult, with the introduction of scientific 

 methods into agriculture, horticulture, and forestry, for zoologists 

 studying economic problems to form a definite opinion with regard to 

 the economic status of many species of the birds of our islands, such as, 

 for example, the Rook, Jay, Starling, Chaffinch and other finches. 



This difficulty is entirely due to the almost complete absence in this 

 country of any precise information as to the food habits of our birds. 

 There exists a large amount of evidence obtained from observers, such 

 as fruit-growers, gamekeepers, sportsmen, and others; and although 

 some of this may be and is useful, much of it has been distorted. It is 

 necessary in order to obtain as accurate a conception as possible of the 

 economic status of an}- species of bird is the actual dissection and re- 

 cording of the contents of the crops and stomachs of a large number 

 of individuals killed, not only in different months of the year, but 

 also in different localities. 



Such evidence is the only real and safe guide, and observational 

 evidence, after careful selection, must only be taken as supplementar}-. 



Very little work of this nature has been accomplished in this countr}'. 

 The Biological Survey Bureau of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture furnishes an excellent example of the kind of work that 

 should be carried cut. The Central Bureau for Ornithology of the 

 Hungarian Department of Agriculture is doing similar work. 



It is proposed to form a British Economic Ornithological Committee, 

 as such work can be best carried out by a number of biologists working 

 together. The Board of Agriculture have promised to help the inquiry. 



