MASON AND LEFEOY. 131 



HIRUNDINID^E. 



SWALLOWS. 



Himndinidce. Martins and Swallows. The whole food con- 

 sists of small insects caught on the wing. F. I., II., 267. (Hirundi- 

 nes) exclusively on small insects : mosquitoes, midges, gnats. 

 To feed young, insects are collected in a ball in the mouth. 

 B.N.H.S.J., III, 43. 



Insects, which form the whole of their sustenance, are habitual- 

 ly taken on the wing. E. B. C. N. H., 524. 



809. Cotile sinensis. Indian Sand-Martin. 



Stomach examined 



7_6_08 1 Gymnopleurus parvus. 

 7 Pyrrhocorids sp. ? 

 1 Fly maggot. 



Summary. One bird contained 9 neutral insects. 



The Swallows, Martins and Sand-Martins feed entirely on insects 

 in the air, and are, I believe, always regarded as beneficial. They 

 are noted in the Board of Agr. leaflets (No. 55) as taking Tipulidce 

 or Crane-flies which are of doubtful economic importance in India, 

 and Aphidce which are injurious in India as elsewhere. They are 

 therefore to be regarded as beneficial. 



MOTACILLID.E. 



WAGTAILS & PIPITS. 



The food consists of seeds, insects, worms, small mollusca 

 and crustaceans, usually procured on the ground. Wagtails hunt 

 for flies round cattle. E. B. C. N. H., 501. 



Mostly on insects, a few only partake of grain or seeds. Jerd. 

 B. I., II., 211. They feed entirely on insects. F. L, II, 285. 



Some kinds of birds eat weevils (Calandra oryzce) such as 

 Wagtails. I. M. N., I., 28. 



826. Motacilla alba. White Wagtail. 



Stomachs examined 



3-1-08. 12 Phidole malinsi. 

 4 Hydrophilids. 

 \ Opatrum sp. 



