The Food ot Some British Wild Birds. 



In young sparrows not more than 40 per cent, is corn, while 

 about 40 per cent, consists of caterpillars, and 10 per cent, of 

 small beetles. This is up to the age of sixteen days." 



Gurney's statement is founded upon six hundred and ninety- 

 four dissections, made by various people, in various places. 



Archibald (4) sums up the question very fairly, he writes : " It 

 is evident, therefore, that there are two sides to the ' sparrow 

 question,' and many good naturalists have been unable to decide 

 which way the balance inclines. It can, however, scarcely be 

 denied that sparrows are almost everywhere too abundant, and, in 

 all probability, if their numbers were greatly reduced, other more 

 attractive and less mischievous birds would be equally efficacious 

 in keeping the ravages of insects within bounds." 



Newstead (92) does not discuss this species in his paper. 

 Florence (47) examined thirty-five specimens, thirty of which con- 

 tained grain, one seeds, one bread, one remains of an insect, and in 

 three the stomachs were empty. 



In view of the above statements it seemed desirable to re-open 

 the question of the nature of the food of this so-called " avian rat." 

 Early in 1910 I commenced to work upon this species, completing 

 by May, 1912, four hundred and four post-mortems of adults, forty- 

 two of nestlings, and the examination of numerous droppings. 



Of the four hundred and four specimens two hundred and 

 seven were shot in or near to orchards or in fruit-growing districts ; 

 one hundred and thirty-eight from agricultural districts, and fifty- 

 nine from suburban districts. The nature of the food for each 

 series is given separately. 



Post-mortem Records. 



1. From Fruit-growing Districts (207). 



