MASON AND LEFROT. 321 



hot weather they obtain them from the sides of water channels 

 used for irrigation.* Earthworms are generally regarded as 

 beneficial owing to the physical effect they have on the soil. 



Annelids. Recorded as taken by Motacilla madraspatensis (in 

 captivity), and by Limosa lapponica. 



Crwtacea. These animals form some considerable proportion 

 of the food of many water haunting species of birds, those that 

 take them most frequently being the King-fishers (Alcedinidce), 

 Rails (Ralidce) Heliornithidce, Cormorants (Phalacrocoracince), 

 Petrels (Turbinares , the Herodiones Ibid dee, Platale'dce, &c., 

 Storks (Limicolce), Waders, Gulls (Gavicz] and Terns, Skuas 

 (Stercorariidce), Ducks Anseres), and Grebes (Podicipididce)< 



RED CRABS by Netta rufina. 



CRABS by Corvus spkndens, Shrikes, King-fishers, Ground Cuckoos, 

 Owls especially the genus Ketupa, Hawks and Eagles, Fri- 

 gate-birds (Fregatidce), Storks and Egrets, and by Gannets. 



PRAWNS by Pelargopsis gurial, Haliastur indus, Hydroproyne 

 caspia, Inocotis papillosus, Ardeola grayi, Tadorna cornu'a, 

 and Podicipes nigricollis. 



SHRIMPS by Halcyon smyrnensis, Rallina canningi, Limosa belgica, 

 L. lapponica, Gallinago coelestis, Tadorna cornuta, Casarca 

 rutila, Mareca penelope, Querquedula circia, Nyroca ferruginea. 



ARTEMIA SALINA by Phcenicoplerus roseus. 



CRAY-FISH by Merganser castor. 



WOOD-LICE by Micropus melanocephalus, and Coridagrus concretus. 



Mollusca. These animals include snails, slugs and shell-fish 

 generally. They are taken for food by birds that for the most part 

 frequent damp localities, in many cases forming the principal food 

 of such birds. Many birds, however, take pieces of shell for the 

 same reason that other species take small stones and grit, 



* The king crow almost invariably robs the worms he eats from other birds. 



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