Living Food for Insectivorous Birds. 73 



Of the four-winged flies {Hyj?te7ioptera) I do not think birds 

 have any instinctive dread, for we know that, in tropical countries, 

 many weak species build their nests, for protective purposes, 

 close to tlie nests of the most virulent wasps ; still the number 

 of birds which feed upon bees and wasps is limited; although 

 the grubs of all wasps are recognized as excellent food for rear- 

 ing young birds ; the Laughing Thrushes after breaking the 

 stings against their stiff tail-feathers eat wasps with impunity, 

 while the Bee-eaters probably crush the bodies in their bills 

 before swallowing examples of Hytne7iopte>a, but most insec- 

 tivorous birds leave these insects severely alone, and this should 

 cause our friends who make too much of mimetic resemblance 

 to pause before they assume that a wasp-like or bee-like aspect 

 in another insect is invariably a protection, when we who keep 

 birds know that it is nothing of the kind ; it may be some pro- 

 tection against a bird which is not hungry, but not against one 

 which is pressed for food : a hungry bird investigates closely. 



Ants are well-known to be excellent food, both in the 

 pupal and perfect stage, and nests of the red ant f Formica rufaj 

 common in many woods, may be removed entire in a sack for 

 the benefit of the inhabitants of a large outdoor aviary. 



Sawflies {Tenth} edi7iid(B) are generally rejected by birds in 

 all stages, although their larvae much resemble those of Lepidop- 

 terous insects ; they have, however, the front segments rather 

 more swollen and the cocoons are tough and paper-like as a 

 general rule. 



The smaller Crustacea and Mollusca are well known 

 to be a favourite diet with many soft-feeders, also, of course, 

 earthworms ; the latter should always be offered to all Thrush- 

 like birds when nesting, as they are easily obtained in quantity 

 and with verj' little trouble as a general rule. 



