298 THE FOOD I OF BIRDS IN INDli. 



is vegetarian, and of vegetable matter the staple articles are 

 rice both cultivated and wild, various kinds of reeds, roots, etc., 

 and such animal matter in the shape of worms, snails and shell 

 fish, etc., which force themselves on their notice. The food of the 

 Garganey is both vegetarian and animal, and it subsists much on 

 surface buds of water plants, and shoots of such as run along 

 the surface of the water. It however also eats water-insects, 

 worms, and similar food. S. B. I. D. A., 192-194. 



Stomachs examined. 



18-4--09. 4 Sinai] sheila and the remains of about seven more (Flanobig sp.) 

 8 Bulbous water weed roots. 



1 Small stone. 



A large amount of sand/ 

 18-4-09. 1 Small pointed shell. (Melania tuberculata). t 



2 Larger snail shells. (No. 16). 



4 Bivalves, opercula of Vivipara ? or Ampullaria ? 



2 Small black seeds. (Cf. snipe). 



7 Large piece of a Leguminous weed. 



Summary. Both birds contained shells and vegetable matter. 



1602. Spatula clypeata. Shoveller. 



Feeding near the edges of tanks in shallow water among 

 weeds, chiefly on minute worms and Iarva3, which it sifts from 

 the mud. Jerd. B. I. Ill, 797. 



Doubtless in more savoury localities, such as the more 

 aristocratic Ducks frequent, insects and their larvae, worms, small 

 frogs, shells, tiny fish, and all kinds of seeds and shoots of water 

 grasses, rushes and the like, constitute their food ; but when they 



take up their abode on one of these it is impossible to say 



what they will not eat. H. M. G. B. Ill, 143. 



It is almost omnivorous, but feeds principally on insects and 

 their larvae, worms, molluscs, and on various organic substances 

 that are found on the borders of swamps and ponds. F. I. IV, 

 453. 



As noted by Hume, they feed with bills and heads under 



water, collecting the numerous forms of animal life which 



bound, and .... They are omnivorous, and will eat almost any- 



