( l^i ) 



IleterocerifLv, Byrrliidsv, EJateridx and Curadionidse^ but not 

 a single specimen of either Coccinellidx or TehpJioridx. In 

 the table of the food of a number of rapacious birds which I 

 gave last year I mentioned that out of seventy Long-eared Owls 

 {Asio otus, L.) the pallet of one shewed remains of a small 

 bird and of the remainder the remains of mice and shi-ews, 

 and I further added that this species is also recorded as 

 feeding on large moths and beetles. Mr. Newstead I find 

 has recorded the fact that he found a number of pellets 

 ejected by this owl, quite twenty-five per cent, of which 

 consisted of the remains of large dung-beetles belonging to 

 the genus Geotrupes, some pellets being entirely made up of 

 these and grass : rooks too are partial to these large Scarabfeidse ; 

 the rook is an omnivorous feeder, and is a very useful bird 

 as long as it is able to procure wire-worms, caterpillars, such 

 as those of Agrotis segetum, etc., for its young, but it is also 

 very partial to fruit, and will also eat eggs or even destroy 

 young birds at times : rooks and carrion crows have been 

 known to cai*ry oif a crop of pears, and I know from experi- 

 ence that they will entirely strip a cherry-tree before the 

 fruit is nearly ripe. The shrikes or butcher-birds are fond 

 of the large burying beetles, Xecrophorus htmiator and N. 

 mortuonmn, and blackbirds and thrushes do good service in 

 destroying species of Otiorrhynch'KjS and Sitones, which are 

 often serious pests to gardeners and farmers. 



In the paper on "The Bionomics of South African Insects" 

 which I have already alluded to, Mr. Marshall records a 

 number of expei'iments which he made with a kestrel 

 (Cerchneis namnanni), which ate specimens of inconspicuously 

 coloured Curculionidiv, and also certain Carahidiv belonging 

 to the genus Graphipterus if offered head first : if offered tail 

 first they were rejected from fear of the acid discharge so 

 characteristic of this family : species of Lycus, Clerus, 

 Epilachna, and Mylahris were also rejected, but, somewhat 

 curiously, a Clythra with strong Coccinellid odour was eaten 

 by the bird after some hesitation : a considerable list is given 

 of species refused, but, according to Mr. Marshall's observa- 

 tions, they were refused " usually after tasting " : it must 

 indeed be taken into consideration, that the kestrel was a 



PROC. ENT. see. LOND., V. 1902. F 



