MASON AND LBFROY. 327 



NEUEOPTERA. 



Odonata. The Dragon-flies, though so abundant a form of 

 insect life, are comparatively rarely taken as food when in the 

 imago state by birds. The larval forms are most frequently taken 

 and possibly form a large percentage of the insect-food of the 

 Ardece and other water frequenting birds which take aquatic 

 insects. Most references that we have to birds taking aquatic 

 insects probably refer to the larva? of Odonata. We know little 

 of the food of the imagines (they undoubtedly take Ephemerids 

 and at times butterflies' and the larvae are as far as we know car- 

 nivorous. These insects have therefore been included as bene- 

 ficial they are usually regarded as such. 



The Meropidce take these insects only on dull days. Croco- 

 tfamii servi'lia has been noted as taken by M. viridis, M. philip- 

 pinu-, and Ardeola grayi; Platygomphus dolobratus by M. viridis 

 and Ardeola grayi ; Rhyothemis variegata by Sypheotis benga- 

 lensii ; and Trithemis pallidinervis by Lanius erythronotus, M. phi- 

 lipp'nus and Ardeola grayi. Zygopterids by Totanus glarola and 

 Ardeola grayi. Dragonflies are also occasionally taken by Dicru- 

 rus ater, Siphia albicilia, and Sterna seena, and are said to be 

 taken by Dissemurus paradiseus, M. persicus, Falco subbuteo, and 

 Nyroca ferina. 



Phryganeidce. Caddis -flies are both vegetable feeders and 

 carnivorous and are included as neutral. They are said to be 

 eaten by Nyroca ferruginea. 



Ephemeridce. May- flies ; probably of similar feeding habits to 

 the Phryganeidce, but little appears to be known about either group. 

 They are therefore also included as neutral. They are taken as 

 food to some extent by birds, such as Dicrurus ater, Cisticola cur- 

 silans, Phylloscopus tristis, Tephrodornis pondicerianus, Sturnus 

 malabarica, Acridotheres tristis, Anthus maculatus, and Brachyp- 

 fernus aurantius. 



Termitidce. The White-ants are well-known pests to timber, 

 wood-fabrics, &c., and are injurious. They form a considerable 



