MASON AND LEFROY. 261 



In October and November the bird is often found on the high 

 strips of ground near to paddy fields or even in the paddy, feeding 

 on its blossom, while later on, in January, it is found in the 

 mornings and evenings in the mustard crops, then in flower, but 

 during the day it returns to its favourite high lands. Burnt grass 

 lands it also much affects, and while there I have found its crop 

 full of insects and even little bits of burnt grass or seed. In 

 February and March (Bhutan Duars) they keep to the ooloo grass 

 but near water, which becomes scarce at this time, and where the 

 stunted cardamom, of which they are very fond, is found. 



Assam : In early part of cold season they are found in mustard 

 fields, where they find many insects, especially when the mustard is 

 in flower. When this is cut low grass jungle, known in Assam 

 as the ooloo grass, is their favourite haunt, especially when the 

 grass has been burnt and young shoots are sprouting freely. H. M. 

 G. B. I, 27. 



Stomachs examined 



12-3-07. 9 Chrotogonus sp. 



6 Camponotus compressus. 



4 Opatrum depressum. 



5 Opatrum sp. 



3 Scleron orientale 



4 Cutworms. 



Some vegetable matter probably young shoots 

 18-4-09. 2 Acridium aeruginosum. 



6 Chrotogonus sp. 



1 Rhyothemis variegata ? 



1 Polistes hebrceus. 



1 Opatrum sp. 

 15 Mesomorpha villiger. 



1 Trox indicus. 



3 Derosphcerus rugicollis. , ' 



8 Small Carabids ? 

 1 Cutworm. 

 1 Other larvae. 

 1 Tipulid larva ? 



Summary. Of 72 insects taken by 2 birds, 28 are injurious. 

 34 neutral, and 10 beneficial. Both birds took injurious and neu- 

 tral insects ; one took beneficial insects and the other took some 

 vegetable matter. 



