330 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



damage is done to fruits and some species are dangerous, because 

 of their fierce nature. They do not form a large proportion of the 

 food of many birds, the Meropida3 being perhaps the only family 

 of birds that habitually feeds on them. Vespa orientdUs was found 

 to be taken by Merops viridis, M. philippinus, Dendrocitta rufa, 

 and Caprimulgus macrurus ; Polistes hebrceus, which we may consider 

 a beneficial species, was taken by Dendrocitta rufa, Oriolus melano- 

 cephalus, Acridotheres tristis, Merops viridis, M. philippinus, ard 

 Sypheotis bengalensis, and is said to be taken by Merops apiastur. 



Apido3. Bees of both the common species Apis ftorea and 

 A. indica are beneficial for their flower visiting propensities alone 

 the former being especially noticeable on peaches when in flower 

 and undoubtedly most of the fertilization of these flowers is due 

 entirely to these insects. Apis indica is also " a very important 

 flower fertilizing insect." These two species are practically 

 only taken by the Meropidce or Bee-eaters, though the Indica- 

 toridce, and Pernis cristatus are said to be very partial to the grubs 

 and honey. They have also been taken from the stomachs of 

 Molpastes 'bengalensis, Copsychus saularis, lyngipicus hardwickei, 

 and Amaurornis phcenicurus. The Meropidce will probably prov e 

 a great nuisance to any Bee-keeping industry that may be started 

 in the plains, these birds being persistant feeders on all kinds of 

 Hymenopterous insects except ants and a few others. Halictus 

 cuniculus was taken by Merops viridis and Xylocopa dissimilis by 

 Merops philippinus, this latter species being beneficial as it plays 

 a very important part in the fertilization of San hemp and possibly 

 other leguminous crops. Megachile carbonaria was taken by 

 Merops philippinus. 



Formicidce. Ants are of very doubtful economic importance. 

 Some are at times troublesome household pests, others again 

 keep Aphides, &c., feeding on the honey-dew secreted by 

 these insects. Some are perhaps beneficial in that they are sca- 

 vengers, and many of those that nest in the soil have some influ- 

 ence beneficially in breaking down that soil. We class them here 

 as neutral. 



