The Food of Some British Wild Birds. 



Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, 



Wigg.). ... 



Elder (Sambucus nigra, L.) 

 Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris, L.) ... 

 Hawthorn kernels ... 

 Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Hieracium 



pilosella, L.) 



Nettle 



Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea, L.) ... 

 Self heal (Prunella vulgaris, L.) ... 

 Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus, L.) 

 Sycamore (Acer pseudo -plat anus)... 

 Fragments of seeds, not identifiable 

 Miscellaneous vegetable matter 



10 

 13 



6 

 18 



7 

 29 



3 



22 

 13 



5 



35 

 52 



Field Observations. 



During the five months, January to May, the food consists 

 largely of fruit-buds and fruitlets, and in addition to those which 

 are actually eaten, an equal, or even larger, number are wantonly 

 destroyed by this bird. I have watched them for hours on plum 

 trees destroying the buds wholesale, and similarly on currants. 



Food of Nestlings. 



An examination of thirteen specimens showed that the stomach 

 contents consisted largely of small Lepidopterous larvae and the 

 remains of some small moth, together with beetle remains and those 

 of some Dipterous flies. There were also remains of fruit in five 

 stomachs and leaf -buds in two. 



Conclusion. 



Founded largely upon observations in the field, I cannot arrive 

 at any other conclusion than that the bullfinch is, for quite half the 

 year, most destructive in fruit orchards, causing considerable 

 losses to growers, which far outweigh any little good it may do in 

 keeping down the spread of weeds. Indeed, its value in this respect 

 is extremely doubtful, for it certainly helps in the distribution of 

 such weeds as the dandelion, dock, groundsel, ragwort, charlock, 

 etc. In all fruit-growing districts it should be destroyed. 



YELLOW BUNTING. 



Emberiza citrinella, Linn. 



Of recent years there has been a considerable increase of this 

 bird, particularly so in certain districts. My own investigations 

 were made some years ago, and, therefore, are in no way influenced 

 by this increase. 



