JUNE 169 



detriment to farmers in the presence of woodpigeons, 

 starlings, and rooks, undertook a careful and im- 

 partial analysis of their diet at all seasons of the year. 

 Beginning on March 1, 1894, by February 28, 1895 

 he had examined the contents of : 



Males. Females. Total. 



Woodpigeons, . . 143 122 265 



Eooks, ... 167 188 355 



Starlings, . . . 114 76 190 



424 386 810 



Of the woodpigeons, the crops of nineteen were 

 empty, and one was diseased, leaving 245 for examina- 

 tion, which showed : 



Cereal grains, . . . . 33 per cent. 



Leaves, 27 '5 



Fruits and seeds, .... 23 



Roots, . 8-5 



Flowers, , . . . .8 



100 



Inasmuch as the leaves were chiefly those of clover 

 and turnips, it is clear that the mischief done by these 

 woodpigeons to crops far outweighed any benefit 

 conferred by the destruction of weeds. Of the 190 



