334 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



Macrochilus 3-pustulatus by Francolinus vulgaris ; Pheropsophus 

 bimaculatus by Inocotis papillosus. 



Haliplidoe. -These beetles are very little known, and they 

 have with all other water beetles been regarded as neutral. Hali- 

 plus angustifrons was taken by Motacilla borealis. 



Dytiscidce also neutral. Hyphoporus aper was taken by 

 Totanus glareola, T. ochropus. and Ardeola grayi ; Laccophilus ftex- 

 uosus by Totanus glareola ; Corpelatus indicus by Brachypternus 

 awantius ; C. pugnax by Tringa minuta. 



HydrophilidcB. -Water scavengers are neutral. They were 

 found in Crater opus canorus, Mgithina tiphia, Sitta castaneiv ntris> 

 Dicrurus ater, Acanthopneuste nitidus, Ruticilla rufiventris, Cyanes 

 cula suecica, Motacilla alba, M. borealis, Anthus maculatus, Liopicus 

 mahrattensis, and Totanus glareola ; Sph&ridium 5-maculatum in 

 Acridotheres ginginnianus. 



Staphylinidce. The Rove beetles are predaceous and certainly 

 not in the least injurious in any way. They have been regarded 

 as beneficial. Phylloscopus tristis was found to have taken one 

 speciss, and Poedarus variicornis was once taken by Dicrurus ater. 



Histeridce. Little is known of these beetles, some are pre. 

 dacsous on various insects and others are possibly scavengers. 

 They have here been classed as neutral. 



Histerids are apparently seldom taken by birds ; they are 

 recorded from Crateropus canorus, Dicrurus ater, Acridotheies 

 ginginnianus, and Gallinago co3lestis. Hister bipustulatus var. 

 bimavulata was taken by Francolinus vulgaris, as also H. opacus 

 H. scissifrons by Calandrella dukhunensis. 



CoGcinellidce. Lady-bird beetles are undoubtedly on the whole 

 beneficial. A few the genus Epilachna are leaf eaters, and at 

 times injurious to vegetable crops ; others again eat fungus 

 spores and may therefore act as an agent for spore distribution. 

 The greater number are well known checks on Aphidce of various 

 species. 



