Vol. XXII. 

 1923 



] KC^nKRTS. ninis of the Cranifc Belt 293 



Smicroruis hrcrirostris has a fondness for leaflio])pevs (Jas- 

 sids, Fulf^orids). The insect which escapes its bright eye must 

 be well concealed indeed. Alany insects, such as small Diptera 

 (two-winged tlies ) and Hymenoptera (four-winged flies) must 

 be caught by him on the wing. The various species of Eucalyp- 

 tus when flowering yield him a rich harvest of small beetles, etc. 



Acayitluzo Vuicato confines himself apparently to an insect diet. 

 Hardness of shell (wing case) appears to be no bar to him ; 

 down goes the insect whole, and it may, when recently swallowed, 

 be found in the stomach in this state. 



.Icanthica pusilla has \ cry similar taste to the ])recc(ling, but 

 in addition includes in his dietary a cpiantity of vegetable matter 

 and a few seeds. 



Cicohasilcits clirysorrlioiis has an insatiable ap])etite. All is 

 grist that comes to his mill ; every order of insect is represented 

 in his daily menu, and spiders do not come amiss. 



Geohasilcus rcijitloidcs has developed seemingly a penchant for 

 eating ants, and must devour a large cpiantity during the (la\-, in 

 addition to the general run of insects. 



Gerygone albogularis is a terror to all insect life, attacking 

 boldly quite large insects, and his strong beak ensures him quick 

 victory. He is probably one of our most useful birds, destroy- 

 ing, as proven, numerous small weevils and plant-eating beetles. 



Chthonicola sagittata must be also very useful, his diet being 

 composed chiefly of scale insects, leafhop])ers, and other economic 

 pests, but there is in addition a small ([uantitv of seeds and 

 vegetable fragments. 



We would not dogmatise on the point as to whether the 

 stomach contents show positively that the birds live on the ground 

 or in the trees, but the examination of many stomachs of the 

 species dealt with would lead us to conclude that the food can 

 In a measure be taken as a guide to the habits of the indi\idua] 

 species. 



TABLE OF STOMACH COXTBXTS. 



Si)iicrornis hrcrirostris. — Insects: Coleoptera. fragments of 

 small beetle, sp. undeterminable ; Hymenoptera, several small 

 wasps, also ants (Dolichoderus sp.), very numerous fragments; 

 Diptera, large quantity of wings, heads, etc., undeterminable ; 

 Homoptera, fragments of leaf hoppers (Fulgoridae, etc. ). ^'ege- 

 table Matter : A small quantity. vSeeds : None. 



Acanthiza lineata. — Insects : Coleoptera, one small plant-eating 

 beetle (Fam. Chrysomelidae), 3 Chrysomelid beetles (Calonicio 

 sp.) ; Hymenoptera, several ants, and one or more Chalcid 

 wasps ; Diptera, one vSyrphid-fly, many fragments of Diptera un- 

 determinable ; Homoptera, one Fulgorid, and fragments of leaf- 

 hoppers undetermined. Vegetable Matter: None. Seeds: None. 



