40 
Report on the Food Found in 
Corn seems to be taken all the year round, but less from May 
to September than during the remainder of the year ; it is 
probably obtained largely from poultry food in farmyards, as 
well as from the stubble, from the stackyard and from standing 
corn. Its marked fragmentary nature in the chaffinch is very 
characteristic. Judging from the food found in these birds 
the chaffinch was mildly beneficial in 1912, but in 1913 it was 
slightly injurious for 5 months of the year ; in January, June 
and November it was doing more good than harm. 
Nature of Food, 1912. 
The monthly record here cannot show anything definite as 
regards the food of the chaffinch as so many of the birds 
contained nothing much but grit and unidentifiable debris. 
The few objects found are given below : — • 
January. — The 5 birds received contained : — 2 Rose Aphides 
(M acrosiphum roses) ; 22 Chickweed seeds ( Stellaria media) ; 12 Knot- 
grass seeds ( Polygonum aviculare) ; in 1 bird a grain of wheat was 
found ; in another, 14 peas, and in a further bird, a piece of insect skin. 
February. — Fifty-two birds in all were received, and these con- 
tained 59 harmful insects, as follows : — 1 Wireworm ( Athoas sp.) ; 
6 Raspberry Weevils ( Otiorhynchns picipes ) ; 35 Fever Fly larvae 
(Bibio horlulanus ) ; 3 Muscid larvae (apparently Stomoxys) ; 1 wing 
of a Drosophilid Fly ; 1 Earwig ( Forficula auricularia ) ; 8 Woolly 
Aphides (Eriosoma lanigera ) ; 4 Mussel Scales ( Lepidosaphess ulmi). 
Also 1 Stratyomid larva ; 1 Centipede ( Geophilus longicornis)* and 6 
small Carabid larvae.* No fewer than 105 weed seeds were found, in- 
cluding : — 6 Chickweed ( Stellaria media) ; 6 Knotgrass ( Polygonum 
aviculare) ; 24 Goosefoot ( Chcnopodium sp.) ; 2 Thistle ( Cnicus 
lanceolatus) ; 18 Campion ( Silene Cucubalus) ; 3 Wild Peas ( Lathyrus 
sp.) ; 6 of Charlock ( Sinapis arvensis) ; 18 Black Bindweed ( Poly- 
gonum Convolvulus) ; 5 Speedwell ( Veronica sp.) ; 1 Vetch ( Vicia sp.) ; 
1 Sheep’s Sorrel (Rumex Acetosella) ; 3 Spurrey seeds ( Spergula arvensis)’, 
2 Milium ( Milium effusum) ; 5 wild Composites and 5 wild Crucifer cs 
sp. ? Also 2 Mustard Seeds ( Brassica alba).* 
Amongst grain there were found 35 grains and husks of wheat, 8 of 
barley, 3 of oats and 1 pea. 
In 5 birds grass was found, stones in 13, and cabbage debris in 1. 
March. — The 25 birds received contained very little food. Only 
9 insects were found, namely, 4 Click Beetles (2 Athous and 2 Agriotes) ; 
2 Rose Aphides (M acrosiphum roses) ; 2 Ash and Willow Scales ( Chion - 
aspis salicis), and 1 Apple Blossom Weevil ( Anthonomus pomorum). 
Seventeen weed seeds were found : — 4 Spurrey seeds ( Spergula 
arvensis) ; 3 Charlock ( Sinapis arvensis) 4 Chickweed ( Stellaria 
media) ; 2 Self Heal ( Prunella vulgaris) ; 1 Milium [Milium effusum) ; 
1 Goosefoot ( Chenopodium sp. ? ) and 2 Speedwell ( Veronica sp. ?). 
Also 31 grains of wheat, 4 of barley, 3 of oats, and 1 of white Kaffir 
corn. 
In 13 birds stones were found ; vegetal matter in 3, and debris of small 
beetles in 5. 
April. — Eighty-two birds were received this month, and in these 
the following insects were found : — 2 Wireworms ; 1 Strawberry 
Weevil ( Anthonomus rubi) ; 1 Muscid larva sp. ? ; 1 Stratyomid larva ; 
3 Fever Fly larvae ( Bibio sp.). Also 1 mollusc [Pyramidula rotundata). 
