118 



Stomachs examined contd. 



3 Opatrum sp. 



Some vegetable matter. 



4-5-07. 3 Camponotus compressus. 



5 Opatrum sp. 



2 Mesorrtorpha villiger. 



23-6-07. 3 Chrotogonus sp. 



5 Opatrum sp. 



1 Onthophagus sp. 



1 Earthworm. 

 10-7-08. 1 Tiphia sp. 



2 Anomala larvae. (A. variant). 

 1 Aetycus lateralis. 



I Myllocerus maculosus. 



1 Bud. 



9-10-08. 3 Melonthid larvae. 



3 Opatrum sp. 



1 Small weevil. 



4 Cutworms. (A. ypsilon?) 



1 Spider. 



12-10-08. 4 Camponotus compressus. 



2 Onthophagus spinifer. 

 Other insect remains. 



10-11-08. 3 CEcophylla smaragdina. 



2 Polyrachis simplex. 

 1 Cataulacus taprobance. 



4 Camponotus compressiis. 

 7 Opatrum sp. 



5 Myllocerus discolor. 

 1 Weevil. 



1-12-07. 12 Opatrum sp. 

 1 Cutworm. 



Summary. Of 142 insects taken by 12 birds, 7 are beneficial, 

 50 injurious, and 85 neutral. One bird took beneficial insects, 11 

 took injurious and 11 neutral. One bird took a spider and 1 a worm, 

 both of which are beneficial, 4 contained vegetable matter. 



Notes. Nests of young have been watched on several occasions : 

 the young are fed mostly on grubs and caterpillars, many of which 

 are cutworms. They are occasionally fed with Gryllodes melanoce- 

 phalus and Gryllotalpa afr^cana. A Blue Jay [Coracias indica] has 

 often been seen trying to rob a nest containing eggs or young ; in 

 one case attacks on three successive days were repelled, the Jay then 

 giving up the attempt. A Mynah was once seen to steal a mole 

 cricket from a Magpie Robin. 



