208 THE POOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



Stomachs examined contd. 



10-5-09. 15 Brachytrypes achatinus. 



3 Gryllotalpa africana. 

 17-5-09. 17 Brachytrypes achatinut. 



Some chicken bones. 



6-6-08. 1 Chicken, partially digested. 



1 Chrotogonus sp. 

 1 Cicindela cerulenia. 

 1 Cicindela gramniophora. 

 1 Onthophagus spinifer. 



N. B. These insects probably came from the stomach of r. 



chicken. 

 12-7-08. 11 Frogs. 



3 Brachytrypes achatinus. 

 21-8-08. 2 Small birds. 



1 Mouse. 

 1 Frog. 



12-9-08. Kitchen refuse, parts of a chicken, bones, some fat, potato scraps, 



&c. 



Summary. Of 65 insects taken by 13 birds, 2 are beneficial 

 (N. B. These were probably eaten by the chicken taken by the 

 same bird), 62 are injurious, and 1 neutral. 1 took beneficial 

 insects, 7 injurious, and 1 neutral. 4 birds took chickens, 2 small 

 birds, 3 frogs, 5 mice, 2 lizards, and 5 contained refuse matter. 



The food of the common kite differs little from that of the 

 Brahminy Kite. He is, however, a far bolder bird, and haunts 

 towns and villages to a far greater extent and therefore his food 

 consists more of refuse and scraps than his ally. It will even 

 knock a cigarette out of ones hand. I have seen lizards, frogs, 

 and snakes eaten by this bird, though do not know if he ever kills 

 the latter. He is a great nuisance to poultry, often taking the 

 young chickens. I do not know if he habitually feeds on carrion, 

 but have seen a kite eating a dead rat, and a dead jackal, dead 

 mynahs, &c. Any article of food is stolen whenever possible- 

 This kite feeds also to some extent on insects, especially crickets 

 which appear above ground during irrigation operations, but he 

 does not haunt such places so much as the Brahminy Kite. 



1232. Elanus cceruleus. Black- winged Kite. Lizards. B. N. 

 H. S. J. XVII, 670. Insects in grass. B. N. H. S. J. XVII, 710. 

 Chiefly on insects and small mammals. F. I. Ill, 380. Chiefly 



