6 1 



405. Selection of Insects, &c, placed near the Nest by the 

 Observer. — The following collection of insects, &c., was placed 

 near the nest of young Starlings upon which the previous 

 records were made, with the view of ascertaining whether or 

 not the parent birds would carry them to their young :— 



3 examples of young garden snails (Helix aspersa), refused ; 

 2 examples of the small hairy snail (Helix hispida), 

 refused ; 1 centipede (Geophilus longicornis) , refused ; 

 2 earwigs (Forficula auricularia) , 1 taken to the young, the 

 other rejected ; 2 ground beetles (Pterostichus madidus), 

 both taken to the young ; 2 Harvest Spiders (Phalangids), 

 both fed to the young ; 6 wood lice (Oniscus ascellus), 



1 carried to the young, the others although frequently 

 picked up were all rejected ; 5 to 7 green cherries, 

 refused. 



,. During a total period of 17 hours, representing approxi- 

 mately the hours of 1 day during which food was collected for 

 the young, 169* journeys were made to the nest. It may 

 be interesting to note that 3 birds (2 males and 1 female) were 

 seen on 4 occasions to bring food to the young. Of this I am 

 absolutely certain as all 3 birds arrived at the nest almost 

 simultaneously. As a rule, however, the birds paid alternate 

 visits and there was an irregular interval between them. 



An approximate summary of the food brought in during the 

 17 hours may be tabulated as follows : — 



269 insects of the injurious group ; 4 of the beneficial group ; 



2 of the indifferent group ; 30 earthworms ; 14 slugs 

 and snails (molluscs); 1 centipede; 1 wood louse; 

 2 harvest spiders (Phalangids); 23 lots of bread; 

 19 lots of garbage (?) from kitchen midden ; 10 lots of 

 unidentified insects. 



406. ? Damaging Young Wheat Crop. — The examples Nos. 

 395' 396 were forwarded with the note that " they were 

 shot while in the act of damaging a young wheat crop," but 

 no trace of the young plants was found among the stomach 

 contents, so that it is highly probable that the birds had 

 pulled up the plants in order to secure the maggots or fly larvae 



* These figures must he taken as approximate. It was quite evident that on 

 •certain days the visits were much more frequent, giving an average for the 17 hours 

 of about 340 ; so that my figures may, I think, be taken as a low average. 



