No. 2.] Reprints and Miscellaneous Notes. 8i 



COCCiDS PREYED UPON BY BIRDS. 

 BY R. NEWSTEAD, F.E.S., 

 Curator of the Grosvenor Museum^ Chester. 

 (Reprinted from The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 2nd series, Vol. VI, i8a. 



To do justice to this subject, I think it only right that the entire 

 contents of each stomach, found to contain Coccidas, should be 

 given ; as it is only by such means that an adequate idea may be 

 obtained as to whether the birds were able to obtain other, and what 

 we should consider more nourishing, food. I have pleasure, therefore, 

 in enclosing the result of my post mortem examinations in winter 

 and spring of two species of birds \Parus coeruleus and Acredula 

 caudata) taken from my report to the Cheshire County Council on 

 "The Amendment of the W^ild Birds Protection Act."" 



The finding of CoccidcB in birds' stomachs is certainly of very 

 great interest and economic importance. I am not quite sure, but 

 believe that hitherto nothing of the kind has been recorded ; if soi 

 the matter should be of some value. 



I have records of three species of Coccidoe, viz., Aspidiotus, 

 Bonatus, Fd., Mytilaspis pomorum, Bouche, and Asterodiaspis 

 quercicola^ Bouche ; and in my MS. notes there is a record of an 

 immature % Lecanium^ also from the stomach of one of the Parida. 

 Aspidiotus zonatus may be quite as eagerly sought for as the 

 Asterodiaspis, but it is a much rarer species. High Legh is the only 

 known habitat in Cheshire, and this locality is many miles from 

 where the blue tit [Parus coeruleus) had no doubt taken the insects. 

 These birds must have keen eyes to distinguish this species, for it is 

 well protected both in colour and texture. The central red-brown 

 speck in the scale is the only indication of its presence, and alto- 

 gether it may be considered the best protected of any of our British 

 Coccidce, 



Mytilaspis pomorum. — Although only four specimens of this 

 injurious species were found, I am fully convinced that it is readily 

 devoured by birds. Many times have I seen, with the aid of field- 

 glasses, the tree-creeper [Certhia familiar is) collecting this species 

 during winter and spring ; and from what I have seen of the marsh 

 tit (A paiustfis) and the blue tit [P. coeruleus)^ they, too, are fond 

 of the species. One has only to examine a tree infested with this 

 " scale " to find, in very many instances, only the white mealy outline 

 of the inssct on the bark. To get such a result the scale must be 



