m/rm 



The Food of Birds. Report for the years 1911-12. By Laura 

 Florence, M.A., B.Sc. (Transactions of the Highland, 

 and Agric. Soc. of Scotland, 1914.) 



We have already noticed (Vol. VI., p. 262) a first paper 

 on this subject by Miss Florence, and this second paper is 

 drawn up on the same lines as the first. It contains details 

 of the examination of the stomach-contents of no less than 

 1,390 birds of 81 different species. Of a number of these 

 species, as might be expected, only a few individuals have 

 been examined, but the results from the following should 

 be of value to economists, viz., Blackbird (67 examples). 

 Greenfinch (78), House-Sparrow (81), Chaffinch (64), Starling 

 (107), Rook (288), Black-headed Gull (137), Common Gull (78), 

 Herring-Gull (53). With regard to the Starling and the 

 Rook, Miss Florence comes to the same conclusion as other 

 investigators, namely, that when either of these birds grows 

 too numerous in a district its normal diet changes and it 

 becomes harmful to agriculturists. With regard to the Gulls, 

 Miss Florence concludes that while the Black-headed Gull is 

 undoubtedly beneficial, the Common Gull, and more especially 

 the Herring-Gull are harmful, at all events in Aberdeenshire 

 at the present time, and probably this is due to their having 

 become too numerous. On page 73 we may point to a slip 

 where ichneumon flies are referred to as diptera. Apart 

 from their economic value, the details of the stomach-contents 

 are of very considerable interest to ornithologists on account 

 of the information given regarding many species the nature 

 of whose food is seldom properly investigated. — H.F. W. 



Some Observations on the Food of Nestling Sparrows. By 

 Walter E. CoUinge, M.Sc. Reprinted from the Journal 

 of the Board of Agriculture, Vol. XXI., No. 7, October, 

 1914. 



Some further Observations on the Dispersal of Weed Seeds 

 by Wild Birds. By Walter E. Collinge. Reprinted 

 from the Journal of Economic Biology, Vol. IX., No. 2, 

 June, 1914. 



Mr. Collinge adds to his reputation as a careful student 

 of the economic status of birds by these two papers. We 

 have had such convincing proof from time to time of the 



