4 



is a total of some 102 records, of which number about 50 generic 

 or specific identifications were possible. 



In a few instances it was possible to count the actual number 

 of insects that were present in the birds' crops, but in the 

 majority of cases it was impossible to do so. It follows, there- 

 fore, that the percentage of insects must be determined by the 

 frequency with which they were met with, and not by the 

 aggregate number of specimens. By this means we find 

 that insects occurred in about 41 per cent, of the total number 

 of post-mortem records and pellets. If we eliminate the finches, 

 the hawks and owls, ducks, geese, divers and the oceanic birds 

 from this total, we find that the insects forming the whole or 

 part of the dietary of the remaining birds amounts to between 

 70 and 75 per cent. ; and it is important to note that those 

 insects which are included in the injurious group vastly out- 

 number those which may be considered beneficial, and are 

 almost twice as numerous as the beneficial and the innoxious 

 groups combined. 



The insects chiefly found in the stomach contents, &c, 

 putting them in the order of frequency of occurrence, are as 

 follows : — ■ 



(1) Weevils (Rhynehophora). 



(2) Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae). 



(3) Two-winged flies, chiefly Tipulidae or " crane flies " and 

 their larvae, (" leather jackets "). 



(4) Ground beetles (Geodephaga). 



(5) Moth larvae, chiefly surface caterpillars (Lepidoptera) . 



(6) Click beetles and their larvae (" wire worms ") (Elateridae) . 



(7) Scale insects (Coccidae) and plant lice (Aphidae). 

 f Earwigs (Forficulidae) . 



(8) < Flea beetles, &c. (Halticina). 

 LRove beetles (Staphylinidse) . 



r Lady-bird beetles (Coccinellidae) . 



(9) i Chafers* (Melolontha vulgaris, &c). 

 L-Bees, ants and ichneumons (Hymenoptera) . 



(10) Sawfly larvae (Tenthredinidae). 



* The chafers [Melolontha, Rhizotrogus , Phyllopertha) would, if examinations were 

 made during the season when these beetles are plentiful, take a much higher rank, as 

 all previous records go to prove that they are edible species and form part of the food 

 at least of the larger birds. 



