3? 



by these birds, but I have no proof of this. Two examples 

 (Nos. 116, 117) said to have been shot " red-handed " in the 

 act of eating peas had regaled themselves on . American blight 

 and some harmless insects. - 



129. Hive Bee. — My brother, who keeps a large apiary in 

 Cheshire, had long been suspicious that the Blue Tit and the 

 Great Tit were feeding upon the bees. Acting on my suggestion, 

 he concealed himself in a large box which he had previously 

 placed quite close to some of the stocks. On the 10th of 

 February, 1907, a rather mild day, several Tits came and fed 

 upon the dead bees which were lying on the ground near the 

 " alighting board." The Blue Tit ate its prey on the spot, 

 shaking the insect violently and devouring it piecemeal ; 

 the Great Tit invariably carried its prey to an adjacent hedge 

 a few feet away, and, holding the bee in its foot, pulled the 

 insect to pieces. What portions were rejected was not ascer- 

 tained, but the stings were in all probability removed.* Many 

 bees were coming in and out of the hives during the whole of the 

 time that my brother was watching (one hour), and some were 

 crawling leisurely over and about the alighting board, but he 

 was positively certain that the birds did not take any of these. 

 The bees, though dead, were quite fresh, so that they would 

 be quite as nutritious as freshly caught specimens. 



Great Titmouse (Parus major, Linn.). 



130. ? Sex ; near Chester ; 22nd January, 1894. — Several 

 apple " pips " ; fragments of a rather large Geodephagous 

 beetle. 



131. Female ; Aid ford, Chester ; 22nd February, 1894. — 

 Filled with grains of wheat. 



132. Female ; Aldford, Chester ; Jth February, 1900. — 

 Chiefly fragments of maize and wheat, mixed with a few frag- 

 ments of Rhynchophorous beetles. 



133. Female; Aldford, Chester; yth February, 1900. — 

 Fragments of a few Rhynchophorous beetles ; a quantity of 

 apple rind ; fragments of bud scales. 



* Mr. Alfred Newstead informs me that the stomach of one of these birds was 

 found to be filled with the remains of the hive bee ; but although he searched most 

 carefully he failed to find any traces of the stings ; all the other parts of the body were 

 represented. I have examined the material and can verify this statement. — R. N. 



