18 The Food of Nestling Birds. 



and visits averaging approximately 26 per hour were made 

 until 6' p.m., wften the numbers became gradually less, and 

 ceased at 7.50 p.m. Thus, presuming that for 12 hours of 

 the day an average number of visits amounting to 25 per 

 hour was maintained, and half that number during 4 hours, 

 we have the enormous total of 350 vi:=;its paid to the nest by 

 the parent birds. 



On May 11th, 12th, 18th, and 26th, careful notes were 

 made at different periods of the day of the natui-e of the food, 

 and these are given below. 



May 11th, 10.30 to 11.15 a.m.— Fourteen visits were 

 made to the nest, food being brought on each occasion. 

 This consisted of 5 slugs (3 Arion hortensis, Fer., and 1 Agrio- 

 Umax agrestis, Linn.); 3 earthworms; 3 wireworms; 2 larvae 

 of the Great Yellow Underwing Moth (Triphaena pronuba, 

 Linn.); a number of small beetles, too small to be identified, 

 3 larvae of Crane Fly; 2 pieces of bread. 



May 12th, 10-15 to 11-15 a.m.— Thirty -two visits 

 were made to the nest by the parent Tj'irds, and food was 

 brought on thirty-one occasions. The following Avere identi- 

 fied: — 18 larvas of the Great Yellow Underwing Moth (Tri- 

 fhaena pronuba, Linn.), 16 slugs (12 Arion hortensis, Fer., 

 and 4 Agriolimax agrestis, Linn.); 8 small earthworms; 

 several small beetles; 2 spiders, 3 wireworms; a numljer 

 of Dipterous larvae. 



May 18th.— At various times of the day fifty -two visits 

 were observed, at each of which food was brought to the 

 nest. The following were identified:— 4 weevils (Barynotus 

 obscurus, Fabr.); 3 "wireworms; 15 larvae of the Great Yellow 

 Underwing Moth; many small Geometrid larvae; 4 larvae of 

 Crane Fly; 4 earthworms; 10 slugs {Arion Jiortensis, Fer.); 

 2 pieces of meat. 



May 26th.— Forty-eight visits were observed The 

 following food was identified: — 6 lar^e Noctuid Jarvge; 8 larvae 

 of Crane Fly; 4 wireworms; number of small beetles i 11 

 slug) (8 Arion hortensis, Fer.; and 3 Ajgriolimax agrestis, 

 Linn.); 3 earthworms; 2 spiders; bread and kilclien garb- 

 age on 5 occasions. 



Thus on 146 visits the following food was conveyed 

 to the nest: — 61 insegt larvae; a large number of small 



