( xxxviii ) 



crops of the birds examined we may conclude that the mem- 

 bers of that genus are not distasteful, and that, in fact, they 

 form part of the regular food of the birds in question : if, 

 however, we find the members of any particular genus, which 

 is equally abundant in the same locality, absent or represented 

 by a few stray specimens, we may fairly conclude that they 

 are distasteful, and, at most, only eaten under pressure of 

 hunger : and, further, we shall expect to find the first of these 

 with a cryptic appearance, and the second class more or less 

 aposematically or warningly coloured : nor do our conclusions 

 end here : for if we can prove the case with regard to 

 Coleoptera, we have gone far towards proving it for Lepidop- 

 tera as well : at all events this seems to be a legitimate con- 

 clusion from the facts, and if it is allowed by the opposite 

 party they will, of course, be obliged to reconsider their 

 position of uncompromising hostility to the whole theory, even 

 if they still look askance at particular instances. 



With regard to the rapacious birds, I have received from 

 Professor Hudson Beare a very valuable communication made 

 by Mr. George Sim to the "Scottish Naturalist" (vol. ii, 

 1873-4, p. 280) : in the course of ten years, Mr. Sim examined 

 the contents of the stomachs of three hundred and live of the 

 Accijritres and 6'triyes ; although part of the table of results 

 may be considered as beyond our subject, yet I venture to 

 give it in its entirety with additional notes, as it proves con- 

 clusively how very little real harm our birds of prey do, and 

 how that harm is to a great extent compensated for by the 

 destruction of mice, shrews and insects : — 

 3 Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaietus, L.). Lamb's wool, and 

 part of a rabbit. 



2 Sea Eagles (Haliee'etus alb ic ilia, L.), and 3 Rough-legged 



Buzzards (Buteo lagojms, Gmel.). Empty. It is possible 

 that the latter of these birds may occasionally feed on 

 large insects. 



3 Common Buzzards (Buteo vulgaris, Leech). Frogs and 



mice. 

 2 Honey Buzzards (Perms apivorics, L.). Wasps and their 

 larvae. This bird also preys on bees and dragon-flies and 

 other insects. 



