i8 



The Food of Some British Wild Birds. 



worms and slugs in all cases ; 4 spiders ; vegetable matter and soil 

 in all cases. 



Conclusion. 



The song thrush, whilst it occasionally does damage to cherries 

 and red currants, and still less to strawberries and raspberries, 

 cannot be regarded as anything but beneficial to the fruit-grower 

 and horticulturist. The percentage of vegetable food it takes is 

 very small, whilst the bulk of the animal food consists of injurious 

 insects, slugs and snails, millipedes and earthworms. 



FIELDFARE. 



Turdus pilaris, Linn. 



Some years ago this handsome autumn visitor was reported to 

 me as injuring fruit. The two examples forwarded were examined, 

 but no fruit was found in their stomachs. A little later five more 

 specimens were sent, with practically similar results. 



An investigation made in the orchard conclusively proved that 

 this species was not the culprit, and the stomach contents of 

 twenty-three birds showed the food to consist of the following 

 material : 



