BRITISH WAEBLERS 



whole. Insect-life so early in the season is not very plenti- 

 ful, but they often search the branches for the Chirono- 

 miclcB. As the season advances they feed more upon insects, 

 but I have seen them in May swallowing the young shoots 

 of the Norway Spruce, and in the latter part of that month 

 they search the oaks and other trees for the larvse of Tortrix 

 viriclana and Chimatobia brumata, and on these larvas the 

 young are to a large extent fed. In August they frequent 

 gardens in search of raspberries, and as the autumn advances 

 their food consists largely of the berries of the elder {Sambucus 

 nigra) and bramble (Bubus fruticosus). 



36 



