13 



77 instances, though for the most part in extremely small or 

 almost negligible quantities. In many instances, too, it had 

 evidently been obtained from the dung of the horse or other 

 animal, and may in such cases have been taken with the Scara- 

 beid Beetles with which it was associated. It is quite evident 

 also that the small birds had obtained theirs either from the 

 rick-yard or from food thrown out to domestic fowls, as 

 it was sometimes found at a season when grain could not other- 

 wise have been obtained. It is common knowledge that many 

 small birds, such as Starlings, Finches, &c, which do not 

 habitually eat grain at other times, will flock to the farm and 

 other dwellings of man where grain is available. Tits will also 

 eat maize during hard weather, but this forms a very small 

 percentage of their diet, and cannot be considered of any 

 economic importance any more than the bread, suet, and coconut 

 which we give to them. 



Seeds of Noxious Weeds. — Some of the more important obser- 

 vations on the seeds of various plants which are eaten by birds are 

 embodied in the Field Notes, so that these need not be referred 

 to in this preface. On the whole, however, the information is 

 scanty for reasons already stated. The post-mortem examina- 

 tions show that the seeds of such common and widely distri- 

 buted plants as the following are eaten in large quantities : 

 Various species of Knot Grass, Charlock, Self-heal, Nettle, 

 Dock, Milfoil, Sycamore, Carex sp., Goose Grass, Field Brassica. 

 They are given approximately in the order of frequency of 

 occurrence, though much importance cannot be attached to 

 this classification as there are only about 32 records altogether. 



Berries. — These occurred in about the same proportion as 

 seeds, and of these the hawthorn predominated. Rowan and 

 holly berries were not found though these are eaten in large 

 numbers by the various members of the Thrush tribe, and 

 there can be little doubt that a larger percentage of these fruits 

 would have been found in the stomachs of these birds had more 

 extensive examinations been made. Our knowledge of this 

 subject is, however, already clear and full, so that there could 

 be little utility in adding such particulars to the notes on those 

 birds which are known to habitually feed upon the fruits of 

 such common shrubs. 



Acorns. — Having eliminated the Wood Pigeon from this 



