MASON AND LEFROY. 119 



Conclusion. The beneficial insects taken are of minor import- 

 ance, and I believe it probable that the bees were not taken alive. 

 The injurious insects are of far more economic importance than the 

 beneficial and we may therefore conclude that this bird is pro- 

 bably beneficial. 



664. Cittocincla macrura. Shama. Grasshoppers, &c. In 

 captivity on " chenna " and yolk of hard boiled eggs, and will 

 thrive well if occasionally given a few maggots or insects. It 

 also eats raw meat. Jerd. B. I., II, 117. 



TUEDIN^J. 



Black-birds, ouzels, thrushes, field- fares and red-wings. 

 Habits terrestrial and arboreal, both insectivorous and frugivorous. 

 They differ chiefly from the Saxicolinse and the Ruticillinse in being 

 less dependent on insects for their food berries forming a consider- 

 able portion of their diet during the cold weather. Thrushes feed 

 a good deal on the ground. F. I., II, 120. 



Thrushes feed chiefly on the ground, where they hop about 

 scratching and searching for worms, molluscs and insects fruit is 

 also eaten. E. B. C. N. H., 517. 



(Merulidse) thrushes insects, especially the softer kinds, grubs, 

 snails and also fruit, rarely hard seeds. Jerd. B. I., I, 485. 



(Merulinae) insects, molluscs, earthworms ; with several, espe- 

 cially in winter, also fruits and berries Jerd. B. I., 510. 



667. Merula simillima. Nilgiri Black-bird. Snails, glow 

 worms, caterpillars and other soft insects, but a good deal on fruit, 

 especially on the hill goose-berry (Physalis peruviana). Jerd. B. 

 I., I, 525. 



671. Merula nigripileus. Black-capped Black-bird. Like 

 other black-birds, feeds much on the ground on snails, soft insects 

 and occasionally on fruit. At Nellore I found that it had lived al- 

 most entirely on the pretty Helix bistrialis.JeTd. B. I., I, 523. 



676. Merula boulboul. Grey-winged Ouzel. In captivity on 

 earthworms. B. N. H. S. J., XIX, 150, 



