MASON AND LEFROY. 333 



Cetoniince. One species occurred in Dicrurus ater ; Oxycet- 

 onia albopunctata was once taken by Cuculus micropterus. 



All birds that feed on fairly large insects o*n the ground, and 

 especially larvae, will most probably take these Chafers. Birds 

 that follow ploughs, &c.. during cultivation operations will cer- 

 tainly pick up a considerable number of these insects and keep 

 down their numbers to a certain extent. 



Oicinddidce. -The Tiger beetles being for the most part car- 

 nivorous are regarded generally as beneficial. They occurred only 

 in very few instances in birds examined and do not form an im- 

 portant item in the diet of any species. Two species of Cicin- 

 dela, namely, C. aurulenta and C. grammophora, were found in a 

 Milvus govinda, but had most probably been eaten by a chicken that 

 the Kite had eaten. Both these species are neutral in feeding 

 habits. Cicindelidce are also on record as eaten by Francolinus 

 vulgaris and by Glareola lactea. 



CarabidcB The ground beetles are predaceous and have been 

 as usual regarded as beneficial. One or two species are at times 

 reported as injurious to strawberries, &c., but we have no record 

 of any such, or other damage by these insects in India at present- 

 A fair number of birds feed on these beetles, but rot habitually 

 nor in preference to other insect food, nor to any marked extent. 

 Many of these baetles are possibly distasteful. Carabids of various 

 species were found in the following birds : Corvus splendens, 

 Dendrocitta rufa, Molpastes bengalensis, Dicrurus ater, Oriolus 

 kundoo, Sturnia malabarica, Acridotheres tristis, Euticilla rufiven- 

 tris, Calandrella dukhunensis, Merops viridis, Coracias indica 

 Upupa indica, Caprimulgus macrurus. Hierococcyx varius. Centre 

 pus sinensis, Sypheotis bengalensis, Amaurornis phcenicurus 

 Totanus ochropus, (Edicnemus scolopax, and Francolinus vulgaris. 



Of identified species taken the following, Scarites sp. by Cora- 

 cias indica; Tetragonoderus sp. by Merops vir:'dis and Calandrela 

 dukhunensis ; Chlcenius spp. by Centropus sinensis and Acrido- 

 theres tristis ; Ch. circumdatus and Ch. marginatus by Inocotis papil- 

 losus ; Stenalophus 5-pustulatus by Calandrella dukhunensis 



