1907.] Some Notes on the Food of Birds. 



403 



Valuable as these and other investigations are, it is clear 

 that a great deal still remains to be done and the subject needs 

 further treatment in a comprehensive spirit. 



The following observations, which are based on some seventy 

 replies from fruit-growers, farmers and gardeners, which I 

 received in answer to a schedule of questions sent out after 

 consultation with Mr. Cecil Warburton, Zoologist to the 

 Royal Agricultural Society of England, are offered merely as a 

 basis for further study. 



The questions which I sent out are given below with a sum- 

 mary of the replies. 



1. Have you seen any wild birds eating slugs ? 

 Blackbird mentioned in 10 replies, starling (9), thrush (5), 



plover (3), wagtail, fieldfare, gull, robin, ducks, and pheasants. 



2. Have you seen any bird, other than the song thrush, 

 eating snails ? 



Blackbird (10), missel thrush (3), starling (2), rook, jackdaw, 

 gull, and robin. 



3. Have you observed any of the following pests eaten by 

 birds and by which bird ? 



Looper Caterpillars of the Winter Moth. — •Starling, blue tit, 

 robin, and rook. The house sparrow, finches, and other small 

 birds are said to eat these caterpillars when nearly mature, 

 and just previous to their letting themselves down from the 

 trees. 



Lackey Moth Caterpillars. — The rook has been seen eating 

 them when hanging in bunches. 



Ermine Moth Caterpillars. — Thrush and long-tailed tit. 



Weevils and Caterpillars. — Starling. 



Codlin Moth Chrysalids. — Tree-creepers. 



Bud Moth Caterpillars. — Blue, coal, and great tits. 

 Other small birds that feed their young on caterpillars and 

 maggots found on the branches and trunks of trees include the 

 chaffinch, wren, and flycatcher. 



4. Have you seen any bird feeding on the larv?e of the 

 Gooseberry Saw fly or on Magpie Moth Caterpillars ? 



Very few birds eat either of these. Cuckoos and house 

 sparrows are sometimes seen eating them. 



5. Have you seen birds eating Scale on apple trees or on 

 gooseberry or currant bushes ? 



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