MASON AND LEFROY. 245 



The Phasianidce from a general economic standpoint are of 

 very great importance, more so, in fact than any other group of 

 birds. Not only are large industries centred round the domestic 

 species turkeys, guinea-fowl, and chickens directly with regard 

 to their value as food to man, but the wild species are also almost 

 equally important from the direct products we derive from them, 

 and because of the large industries that owe a very large percentage 

 of their support to the existence of these birds, and from the benefits 

 that sport in connection with these birds brings into a country. We 

 do not discuss the domestic species here, but it is worthy of men- 

 tion that in orchard cultivation these birds do an immense amount 

 of good by devouring grasshoppers and other insects, and in fact 

 do and will prove a valuable asset on any farm, both directly ar.d 

 indirectly. I have not examined many stomachs of poultry, but 

 those that I have contained as a rule mostly insects, of which more 

 than half are grasshoppers. Beetles form a considerable proportion, 

 especially common species of Tenebrionids. They eat a good deal 

 of animal matter, such as frogs and mice, and therefore are to some 

 extent scavengers. 



Of the wild species the Pheasants and the Partridges we hear 

 that local damage is done by the Peacock, Jungle-fowl, some of the 

 Quails and the Chucor to grain crops and millets at times. Those 

 species, however, that feed on grain can only do so at certain periods 

 of the year, and, though some considerable damage may occur at 

 these times, the good done at other periods of the year- in all proba- 

 bility more than counterbalances any harm done ; for, judging by 

 the records we have of the Black-partridge, these birds feed very 

 largely on injurious insects at any rate during such times as grain 

 is not available in the field as food, and in all probability much of 

 the grain eaten is obtained by gleaning. 



Of the food of the Phasianidce, Evans (C. N. H. 203) says 



' Their food is chiefly vegetable and includes shoots, buds, leaves. 



grass, bulbs, seeds, berries and other fruits, with a certain amount 



of grit; but worms, molluscs, ants and their COCOOLS swell the list/''" 



It is noticeable that most Indian species feed to a large extent on 



