20 



The Food of Some British Wild Birds. 



Field Observations. 



Careful observations made in the field fully confirm all that 

 has been written about this species as a pest to fruit-growers. In 

 the early part of 1911 I saw a large acreage of strawberries 

 seriously damaged, and currants and raspberries suffered in a like 

 manner. At the close of the hot and dry summer of 1911 I observed 

 these birds pecking ripe pears ; when examined almost every fruit 

 had one or two holes in. 



Food of Nestlings. 



An examination of the stomach contents of 23 specimens gave 

 the following results: remains of 17 earthworms and 9 slugs; 3 

 wireworms ; fragments of wing-cases of beetles ; large amount of 

 vegetable matter present in all cases ; bread and grain present in 7 

 cases. 



Examination of Faeces. 



A large number of droppings have been examined, most of 

 which lend support to the view that this species eats a considerable 

 amount of fruit. A few seeds of the common sorrel (Rumex acetosa, 

 L.) were found in one case, and in sixteen cases out of thirty-seven 

 there were minute bits of the wing-cases of beetles. 



