20 The Food of Nestling Birds. 



following- remains : — 1 wing case of ground beetle (Pterostic- 

 hus madidus, Fabr.); 19 legs of various small beetles; 1 wing 

 case of ladybird beetle; 23 wing cases of weevils; 27 heads 

 of Lepidcpterous larvae; parts of 5 wireworms; half of centi- 

 pede (Geophilus longicornis); fragments of plant remains; 

 grit. 



III. — Examination of Stomach Contexts. 

 The stomach contents of 179 nestlings have been care- 

 fully examined. These consisted of 94 Starlings, 42 Spar- 

 rows, 20 Thrushes, and 23 Blackbirds. 



It is unnecessary to set forth in detail the contents of 

 each individual stomach, and the contents of eai^h species are 

 therefore summarised as follows : — 

 Starling.— 94 examples: — 



May 20th. — Twenty specimens received. Tlie food contents 

 identified were: 8 larvse of the Great Yellow Underwing- Moth; 8 

 larvse of the Winter Moth; 9 small Lepidopterous larvae; parts of 

 5 wireworms; wing cases and legs of 3 beetles; few small Dip- 

 terous larvae; 3 spiders; remahis of slugs; few pieces of eai'th- 

 worms; bread in all cases. 



Marj 23rd.— Fourteen specimens received. The food con- 

 tents identified wez'e: 5 larvae of the Great Yellow IJndei'wing 

 Moth; 8 small Lepidopterous larvae; many small Dipterous larva;; 

 remains of 9 slugs (^Arion hortensis, Fer.) ; few pieces of eartli- 

 \rorms; bread and vegetable matter present in 12 cases. 



May 25th.— Sixteen specimens received. The food contents 

 identified were: 8 larvae of Great Yellow Underwing Moth; 9 larvae 

 of the Winter Moth; 5 wireworms; 7 wing cases of weevils (Bary- 

 notus obscurus, Fabr.); few Fungus Gnats; 3 spiders; 2 centi- 

 pedes; remains of 5 slugs; few pieces of earthworms; bread, meat, 

 and vegetable matter present in 7 cases. 



May 28th.— Twenty-two specimens received. The food con- 

 tents identified were: 5 larvae of the Great Yellow Underwing 

 Moth; 7 small Lepidopterous larvae; 8 wireworms; 11 wing cases 

 of weevils (Barynotiis obscurus, Fabr.) ; various small Dipterous 

 flies; 2 spiders; 1 centipede; remains of 11 slugs (Arion^ hor- 

 tensis, Fer.) ; 7 partly digested earthworms (Allolobophora cJiloro- 

 tica, Sav.); bread, meat and vegetable matter present in 15 cases. 

 May 29th.— Twenty -four specimens received. The food 

 contents identified were: 6 larvae of the Great Yellow Underwing 

 Moth; 10 larvae of the Winter Moth; 9 wireworms; wing cases, 

 legs, and other remains of 23 beetles; 3 spiders; 1 slug (Arion 

 hortensis, Fer.); 9 earthworms {Allolobophora cldorotlca, Sav,); 

 bread, meat and vegetable matter present in 19 cases. 



