136 THE FOOD OF BIEDS IN INDIA. 



Summary. Of 66 insects recorded from 67 birds are bene- 

 ficial, 37 injurious and 29 neutral. The number of insects in 42 of 

 these birds, the insects being solely ants (neutral) and weevils 

 (injurious), was not recorded. Eleven birds took vegetable matter 

 only, in all 64 birds containing vegetable matter-whilst 3 con- 

 tained insects only. Two birds contained small snails. 



Conclusion. Beneficial. 



842. Anthus nilghirensis. Nilgiri Pipit. Various insects and 

 grass seeds. Jerd. B. I., II, 230. 



843. Anthus cockburnice. Rufous Rock-pipit. Various in- 

 sects. Jerd. B. I., II, 236. 



845. Anthus richardi. Richard's Pipit. Various insects and 

 grass seeds. " Ortolan/' Jerd. B. I., II, 233. 



847. Anthus rufulus. Indian Pipit. 

 Stomachs examined 



5-2-09. 12 Myllocerus sp. 



1 Phidole malinsi. 

 12-6-08 1 Chrotogonus sp. 



3 Cremastogaster subnuda. 



Phidole malinsi. 

 12-6-08. 14 Termes sp. 



1 Hemipterous head. 

 1 Large spider. 

 5-7-08. Blades and seeds of grass and other vegetable matter. 



Summary. Of 33 insects taken by 4 birds, 27 are injurious, 6 

 neutral, none beneficial. Two birds took neutral insects, 3 in- 

 jurious, 1 grass seeds and vegetable matter, and 1 a spider. 



853. Oreocorys sylvanus. Upland Pipit. Insects and Grass 

 seeds. Jerd. B. I , II., 233. Grylli, and other insects and seeds. 

 Jerd. B. I., II., 240. 



Almost without exception the Wagtails are winter visitors 

 to the plains one species apparently being a resident (M. madras- 

 patensis). We have insufficient records at present for any definite 

 conclusions, and though these birds are almost certainly beneficial 

 they can only be regarded in that light in so far as they keep 

 down an excessive abundance of insect life. 



