Animal Ecology of King''s College Chapel, Cambridge. 241 



along either side at a sllglitly lower level, and has windows 

 on the outride and openings leading to the inter-roof space on 

 the inside. 



In addition to the animals inhabiting tliis space, the fauna 

 of one of tlie four spiral staircases which communicate with 

 it has been included. This staircase is disused, and is there- 

 fore similar biologically to the inter-roof space, as the 

 pigeons, which form the central group of the fauna, are 

 numerous there. 



Tlie whole floor of this space and the staircase are covered 

 more or less with a debris derived from the pigeons, which 

 nest and roost everywhere. This debris consists of droppings, 

 together with derelict food, nesting materials, feathers, and 

 remains of dead pigeons, forming a rich feeding-ground for 

 a varied fauna. 



Conditions at first sight appear unfavourable to life, owing 

 to the extreme dryness of the food and to the darkness. On 

 the other hand, so far as it has been possible to ascertain, the 

 range of temperature is less than that outside. 



An examination of the list given below shows that the 

 majority of the animals found are dependent, directly or 

 indirectly, upon the pigeons for food. It is found that the 

 various members of the fauna fall into two main groups, as 

 follows : — 



I. Independent Species, 



These merely use the chapel as a place of shelter, and 

 obtain their food elsewhere : 



e. g,j pigeons, bats, and hibernating insects. 



IT. Dependent Sp>ecies. 



These fall into the following subgroups : — 



A. Parasites of Independent Species: 



e. g., ticks, fleas, bird-lice. 



B. Indirect Dependents, 



(a) Those feeding on the pigeon-refuse described 

 above. 

 This group includes most of the fauna : 



e.g. J mites, Lepismaj larvse of Coleoptera, Diptera, 

 Lepidoptera, and Siphonaptera. 



[h) Those preying on members of group {a) above : 

 e. g., spiders, Rhynchota, Chernetidea, and some 

 mites. 

 Ann, c& Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 9. Vol. xi. 16 



