72 Practicai, Bird-Kkkping. 



lice) while the last, which fly like Hiiminitig-birds, are not easily 

 captured : but Rat-tailed flies {^Eristalis tenax) are easily picked 

 off" Michaelmas daisies and, in spite of their angry buzzing, are 

 taken at once from the fingers and eaten. 



By far the greater number of the beetles {Coleoplera) may 

 be given to birds, but the common Stag-i^eetle (^Lucaniis ce7vus) 

 which, when approached by a bird throws itself into an attitude 

 of defence, raising itself on its front legs and holding its powerful 

 mandibles wide open, makes its opponent very cautious; I think 

 any of the Crows would be able to master it, but a Thrush seems 

 only able to fling it on its back and then cannot break through 

 its horny covering. The Soldier and Sailor beetles {Telephoridce) 

 are not relished by birds, nor are the tiny metallic blue Cabbage 

 beetles (^Phcedoji brassicce) of which I once had several ounces sent 

 to me to lest my birds with ; these beetles have a strong sour 

 smell like red ink and I did not wonder at their rejection. 

 Bloody-nosed beetles and Oil-beetles would also probably prove 

 equally objectionable. Larvae of Cockchafers are eaten, but they 

 make a disgusting mess of a cage in which they are broken up. 



Although some of the Carabidce such as Carabus violaceiis 

 have a most ofTensive odour, and on that account would probably 

 be generally refused in the beetle stage, their larvae, obtained 

 when digging up the eaith, are greedily accepted, and I found 

 them most useful when ni}' young Ouzels were being reared. 

 Ple)Oslichus viadidus, though a hard-shelled beetle, is eaten by 

 some of the larger birds. 



The smaller Rove-beetles {StaphylinidcB) are, I should 

 think, generally accepted ; but it would need a strong bird to 

 tackle the Devil's Coach-horse {Staphylinus olens) which alwa3's 

 curls up its tail and opens its jaws when touched, a really terrify- 

 ing attitude, and I should iu)t expect it to be a tasty morsel. 



The larvae of Spring-back beetles {Elalendo"), which some- 

 what resemble mealworms and are generally known as wire- 

 worms, are much liked by all insectivorous birds ; as of course 

 are the true mealworms {Taiebrio) of the {?i\\\\\y {TenebiioyiidcB), 

 and the hairy larvae of the Bacon-beetle {Dermesles lardarhis) of 

 the family Deimcstidce the perfect insect being also eaten with 

 pleasure. 



