342 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



maculatus, Amaurornis fuscus, and Glareola lactea. Melittophaga 

 swinhoei is said to take both the larvse and the imagines. 



Ghironomidce. These were taken by Calandrella dukhunensis, 

 and gnats and midges are said to be taken by Hirundines, and 

 Melittophaga swinhoei. 



Tipulidce. Crane-flies were found occasionally in Phylloscopus 

 tristis, Sypheotis bengalensis, and Sarcogrammus indicus. The 

 above three families of flies are injurious. t 



Bibionidce. Fever flies were taken by Phylloscopus tristis, 

 Acridotheres tristis, and Motacilla alba. They are neutral. 



Simulidce. The Sand-flies are said to be taken by Dendrocitta 

 rufa, and are injurious. 



Leptidce. Predaceous and possibly therefore beneficial ; oc- 

 curred once in Fr^ncolinus vulgaris. 



Tabanidce. The Gad-flies are injurious and are taken by Sitta 

 castaneiventris, Sypheotis aurita, JEgialitis dubia, and Ardeola grayi, 

 but in these cases I believe that the flies were taken either dead or 

 in a dying condition. Merops viridis also eats them. 



Anthomyidce. Neutral. Habits exceedingly varied, some are 

 pests, others possibly beneficial. Taken by Calandrella dukhunensis. 



Muscidm were found to be taken by Phylloscopus tristis, Me- 

 rops viridis, and Ardeola grayi, and Acridotheres ginginnianus. Sto- 

 moxys by Calendrella dukhunensis. 



Pupse of Diptera were taken in a few instances from the sto- 

 machs of Francolinus vulgaris, Upupaindica, and Coccystesjacobinus t 



The classes of birds which particularly take Flies are the Swal- 

 lows, Martins and Swifts, the Wagtails, Fly-catchers, Bee-eaters, 

 and also the Sun-birds (Nectarinidce). 

 HEMIPTERA. 



The Heteroptera or Bugs form a fairly general food for birds; 

 but it is possible that a good number of species are distasteful, 

 this is most possibly the reason why we have no records of birds 

 taking the Rice Bug Leptocorisa varicornis. It is possible that 



