196 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 
Feeding Habits of British Birds.—First Report of the Comnuttee, 
consisting of Dr. A. K. Saiptey (Chairman), Dr. C. GoRDON 
Hewirr (Secretary), and Messrs. J. N. HALBeRT, ROBERT 
NEWSTEAD, CLEMENT Rerp, A. G. L. Roaers, and F. V. 
THEOBALD, appointed to investigate the Feeding Habits of 
British birds by a study of the contents of the crops and 
gizzards of both adults and nestlings, and by collation of 
observational evidence, with the object of obtaining precise 
knowledge of the economic status of many of our commoner 
birds affecting rural science. 
Tur Committee decided to investigate first the feeding habits of the 
rook, starling, and chaffinch. It has organised the following body of 
correspondents, who have very kindly promised to assist the inquiry 
by sending specimens of these birds to the Secretary each month, and 
the Committee desires to express its great obligation to the correspon- 
dents for the assistance they are rendering :— 
Mr. T. A. Acton, Wrexham Mr. P. Horn, London; E. 
Mr. A. Arnold, Hants Mr. C. Ibotson, Bucks 
Miss E. V. Baxter, Fife, N.B. | Mr. T. W. W. Jones, Moreton-in-Marsh 
Mr. R. M. Barrington, Co. Wicklow Col. R. O. Lloyd, Pembroke 
Mr. M. D. Barkley, Huntingdon | Mr. E. N. Millington, Shropshire 
Mr. P. A. Buxton, Essex | Mr. W. A. Nicholson, Portobello, N.B. 
Mr. C. L. Burrows, Cumberland Prof. C. J. Patten, Sheffield 
Mr. A. H. Cocks, Henley-on-Thames Mr. R. Patterson, Co. Down 
Mr. L. C. Cox, Somerset | Mr. J. M. Pope, N. Devon 
Mr. E. Lloyd Edwardes, Llangollen Mr. D. B. Robinson, Cumberland 
Col. Wynne Edwards, Denbigh Mr. F. Shillitoe, Hitchin 
Mr. C. Gamble, Edinburgh | Mr. F. Smalley, Carnforth 
Miss Garner, Warwick Mr. B. Thornber, Cheshire 
Mr. A. G. Gavin, Fraserburgh, N.B. Mr. C. W. L. Tottenham, N. Wales 
Mr. R. Gurney, Norwich | Mr. F. Wilde, Cheshire 
Rev. J. St. Herbert, Llandrindod Wells | Mr. J. S. Wroth, 8. Devon 
As the correspondents live in different parts of England and Wales, 
Scotland, and Ireland, and in different types of localities, birds feeding 
under a wide range of conditions are obtained. 
The first birds were supplied in December 1908, and during the first 
six months (December 1 to May 31) 590 birds have been received, 
the number being made up as follows: rooks, 124; starlings, 278; 
chaffinches, 188. Each bird or batch of birds is accompanied by a form 
filled in by the correspondent giving the following details :— 
Name of bird. 
Date on which specimen was killed. 
Hour of the day when specimen was killed. 
Exact locality where specimen was obtained. 
Character of land upon or near which it was shot. 
General character of neighbouring land. 
Is the land well cultivated ? 
What crops are grown in the locality? 
' Is the district wooded ? 
Are the fields bounded by hedges, dykes, or walls? 
What was the bird doing when shot? (feeding, flying, etc,, I: 
Weather. Type of weather prevailing, 
