328 THE FOOD OF BIROS IN INDlA. 



proportion of the food of a number of birds when the winged 

 forms emerge from the nests at the beginning of the rains. They 

 have at such times been noticed to be taken by the following birds ; 

 Co-vus macrorhynchus, C. splendens, Dendrocitta rufa, Crateropus 

 canorus, Molpastes bengalensis, Sitta castaneiventris, Dicrurus ater, 

 Oriolus kundoo, 0. me^nocephalus, Acridotheres tristis, Anlhus 

 rufulus, Thereiceryx zeylonicus, Coracias indica, Upupa indica 

 Butastur teesa, Haliastur indus, Turtur suratensis, and T. risorius. 

 At the same time Dendrocitta rufa and possibly some other species 

 take the unwinged forms of Termites which may then be found 

 at the emergence holes of the Termites. Other birds such as 

 various species of Bulbuis, Drongos, Shrikes, Flycatchers, Sun- 

 birds, Rollers, Swifts, Owls and Hawks are also recorded as taking 

 these insects, and in Journal B. N. H. S. (Vol. IX, 229), the follow- 

 ing occu s : " I know of no fruit or grain-eating bird that will 

 not readily eat these insects/' Possibly the greatest check that 

 we have on these insects in the field is the Phasianidce, most of 

 which birds seem to be particularly fond of the White-ants and fee d on 

 them habitually, scraping and scratching in the nests of the irsects 

 and by no means taking them as the time of emergence only. 



Hemerobiidce. 



Myrmeleo sp. Ant-lions are beneficial. They have occurred 

 occasionally in the stomachs of Oreocincla dauna, Upupct indica, 

 and Francolinus vulgaris. 



HYMENOPTERA. 



Chrysidce or Ruby wasps are parasitic on other Hymenoptera 

 mostly on common species of Eumenes which are caterpillar 

 feeders principally. This family has, therefore, been placed as 

 injurious. As may be expected with such hard insects they 

 seldom form the food of birds, having only been noticed to be taken 

 by Dendrocitta rufa, Dicrurus ater, Merops viridis, M. philippinus, 

 Francolinus vulgaris, Motacilla alba, and M. personata and even 

 then in very few instances. 



