310 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



The Parrots (Psittaci) are the most notorious grain pests, 

 especially the Rosn-ringed Paraquet. Of the Columbinse C. inter- 

 media and C. eversmanni are the only two species of importance, 

 though most Pigeons other than Fruit Pigeons and all Doves take 

 grain to some extent, the Doves chiefly by gleaning in the fields after 

 the crops are off the land. All the Phasianidse notably the Peacock, 

 the Chukor, Jungle-fowl and the Common Grey-Quail, take grain 

 to some extent as also some of the Cranes and Bustards. Several 

 Ducks also feed to some extent on this kind of food. 



OATS (Avena sativa). 



There are practically no references to birds eating oats. They 

 form a very considerable item in the diet of the two common 

 crows Corvus splendens and C. macrorhynchus and have 

 also been taken from the stomachs of Acridotheres tristis 

 Gymnorhis flavicollis, Motacilla alba, M. personata, and Turtur 

 suratensis. The Black partridge (F. vulgaris) gleans oats to 

 a very marked extent. The crows take the ripe grain, 

 newly planted seeds, and the young plants. 



BARLEY (Hordeum vulgar e). 



Barley has been taken from the stomachs of Conus splendens 

 and Turtur suratensis, and is also said to be taken by Wood 

 Pigeons, Caccabis chucor and Nyroca marila. Barley is not 

 a general grain food for birds. The Demoiselle Crane is said 

 to take barley seeds, newly sown. 



PADDY (Oryza sativa). 



Paddy is far the most commonly eaten of all the Indian grain 

 crops, and at times a vast amount of damage is done to this 

 crop not only by the grain being eaten but also to the young 

 plants. In some localities crows are responsible for son:e 

 damage, but by far more is done by various species of Weaver 

 birds (Ploceidce) and Munias (Viduince) some of the latter 

 being known by the name of rice sparrows. Turtur risorius 

 does some damage, feeding entirely on this grain when near- 

 ly or quite ripe. A few of the Phasianidce take paddy most 



