List of Birds Examined. 



35 



Food of Nestlings. 



I have elsewhere (34) shown that during the breeding season 

 between 220 and 260 visits are daily paid to the nest by the parent 

 birds. "Observations were made on various dates of 84 visits to 

 the nest, and the following were identified : 12 larvae of the 

 Winter Moth (Cheimatobia brumata, Linn.) ; 15 beetles (Phyllobius, 

 sp.); 3 ladybird beetles; large number of small Dipterous larvae; 

 number of small Dipterous flies ; 2 spiders ; on 23 occasions bread, 

 potato, and other kitchen refuse/' 



Post-mortems made of forty-two nestling birds gave the following 

 results : 



Examination of Faeces. 



An experiment made on fifty-four droppings which were 

 placed in sterilised soil (36a), resulted in the cultivation of one 

 hundred and thirty-three weed-plants referable to seven species ; 

 whilst from a careful examination made of thirty-five droppings the 

 following perfect seeds were obtained : 



Ribwort, 22; Buttercup, 14; Dandelion, 3; Chickweed, 7; 

 Sheep's Sorrel, 9; Yarrow, 8; Dock, 8; Daisy, 4; and Groundsel, 

 10. 



Undoubtedly sparrows are very active distributors of injurious 

 weed-seeds. 



Conclusion. 



The sparrow has been allowed to increase to such an extent 

 that it has become one of the worst bird pests we have, but if it 

 were reduced to such numbers as to be no commoner than say, the 



