^""'i. m'] Clei.and, Contents of Stomachs and Crops of Birds. yC) 



Examination of Contents of Stomachs and Crops 

 of Australian Birds. 



By J. l)UKTON Ci.Ki.AND, M.D., Ch.M., Principal Assistant Micro- 

 biologist, Bureau of Microbiology, Sydney, N.S.W. 

 In igio, in The Emu (vol. ix., p. 219), and in the AgricuUuraL 

 Gazette of New South Wales for May, were published the results of 

 examinations of the stomach contents of 57 birds. This system 

 of examination has been continued from that date as specimens 

 presented themselves, and the following communication embraces 

 the results from 143 more birds, bringing the total thus far 

 published to 200. As indicated in the previous paper, the birds 

 were not obtained with the direct object of examining their 

 stomach contents, but were obtained by various collectors for 

 other scientific purposes, the most important being research for 

 parasites of various kinds. Mr. W. W. Froggatt, F.L.S., Govern- 

 ment Entomologist, and Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., Government 

 Botanist, have again kindly made the identifications as regards 

 insects and seeds respectively. The immense value of their con- 

 tributions can be easily understood. In addition, thanks are due 

 for special identifications to the authorities of the Australian 

 Museum, especially to Mr. Charles Hedley, F.L.S., Assistant 

 Curator, and Mr. A. R. M'Culloch. I have also to thank Mr. 

 A. J. North, C.M.Z.S., for the identification of some birds about 

 which I was doubtful, and Mr. Launcelot Harrison for the 

 identification of a number of others. 



Appended to this account is a short one of the examination of 

 the contents of stomachs from birds from Lord Howe Island, made 

 in that locality by my coheague, Dr. T. Harvey Johnston. 



M., followed by a numeral, indicates the number of the bird 

 in Mathews' " Hand-list of the Birds of Australasia," published as 

 a supplement to The Emu, vol. vii., 1907-8. H., followed by a 

 numeral, indicates the number of the bird in Robert Hall's " A Key 

 to the Birds of Australia and Tasmania " (ist edition). The 

 uninitialled results are those obtained by myself while sorting the 

 stomach contents for identification by an entomologist or botanist. 

 The initials " W.W.F." indicate that the following memorandum 

 is the result of the examination of the insect remains by Mr. 

 Walter W. Froggatt, Government Entomologist, New South Wales. 

 Similarly, the initials " J.H.M." indicate the botanical results of 

 an examination by Mr. J. H. Maiden, Government Botanist, New 

 South Wales. 



The date when shot is followed by the locality. When more 

 than one specimen of a species has been examined, these are. 

 denoted by {a), (b), &c. 



Phaps chalcoptera (M. 37, H. 550). Bronze-wing Pigeon. 

 {a) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 27th December, 1909. 

 Numerous oval brownish and oval olive-coloured seeds. 

 (J.H.M.) Cassia, sp. (Leguminosae). The brownish seeds are 



