162 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



loquats, &c. One bird took a spider. I believe this bird takes 

 many more smaller insects than the records show. 



Notes. During the rains of the present year (1909) and in 

 the hot weather previous- to the rains these birds were a great 

 nuisance round the bee-hives at Pusa. They feed at such times 

 almost entirely on the bees taking them as they leave or enter the 

 hives. In spite of repeated efforts to stop these birds by destroy- 

 ing such as were near the hives, no sooner had one or two been 

 shot than more came. In the beginning of July two young queen- 

 bees had hatched and both these disappeared on their fertilisa- 

 tion flight, and I believe were taken by the Bee-eaters. They 

 did not move from the hives in order to take up new quarters for 

 then some of the bees would have swarmed with them. The failure 

 of the bees at Pusa is, I believe, almost entirely due to the presence 

 of these birds. A party of 6 or 7 Bee-eaters was always in the 

 neighbourhood, and even when the hives were beii g examined 

 would come and take the bees. They are quite fearless and will 

 take bees hovering round the frame one is examinirg, almost 

 brushing one's face in so doing. The following is a list of the 

 stomach contents of 13 of these bee-eaters shot in the vicinity of 

 the bee-hives during 1909. 



10-4-09. 8 Bees. 

 12-4-09. 6 Bees. 

 12-4-09. 3 Bees. 



2 Mnscids. 

 25-4-09. 4 Bees. 

 12-4-09. 11 Bees. 



5-5-09. 9 Bees. 



5-5-09. 7 Bees. 



2 Mylloeerus maculosu*. 

 26-5-09. 4 Bees. 

 12-6-09. 3 Bees. 

 12-6-09. 6 Bees. 



7-7-09. 4 Bees. 



2 Mylloeerus maculosiis. 



7-7-09, 9 Bees. 



7-7-09. 12 Bees. 



Summary.^Qt 92 insects taken by 13 birds, 86 are bees from 

 the hives, 2 are neutral, and 4 injurious. Ten birds had taken 

 bees only. 



