the Rook, Starling and Chaffinch. 
45 
September little or nothing was to be seen in the 5 birds 
examined except moss and grit. 
In February and March the chaffinch seemed to be doing 
more harm than good, also again in August and October. In 
January, June and November more good than harm was being 
done, whilst in May, July and December the accounts about 
balanced. 
The number of insects found in these birds — -less than one 
per bird — can hardly, however, represent the true insect food 
of the chaffinch. 
Harmful seeds occurred at the rate of only 1 per bird, whilst 
grain was found at the rate of over 2 per bird. The major 
part of the contents of the birds’ crops consisted of grit, small 
stones, and decayed vegetal matter. 
From this survey it may be judged that the chaffinch was 
slightly more harmful than beneficial in 1913, but during only 
4 months of the year. 
I 9 I 4 * 
January. — Four birds examined. These contained 28 grains of 
wheat only and some grit. 
February. — Twenty-eight birds contained : — 1 Mussel Scale ( Lepi - 
dosaphcBS ulmi) and 1 Spider.* Also the following Weed seeds : — 
5 Sheep’s Sorrel ( Ramex Acetosella ) ; 11 Campion ( Silene Cucubalus ) ; 2 
Charlock ( Sinapis arvensis ) ; 5 Goosefoot ( Chenopodium sp.) ; 1 Chick- 
weed ( Stellaria media ) ; 1 Black Bindweed (Polygonum Convolvulus) ; 
2 Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris) ; 3 Speedwell (Veronica sp.). One cabbage 
seed* ; 1 of Brome grass* ; 59 grains of wheat; 2 peas ; 1 radish seed ; 
beetle debris in 5 ; cabbage debris in 1. 
March. — Fourteen birds. The only insect food found w'as some 
beetle debris in 1 bird, which could not be identified as it was too 
triturated. 
Amongst weed seeds was 1 Spurrey seed (Spergula arvensis) ; 1 
Campion (Silene Cucubalus) ; 1 Goosefoot (Chenopodium) ; 1 Black 
Bindweed (Polygonum Convolvulus ) ; and the seeds of 4 wild Crucifer ce ? 
Wheat, 71 grains. Grass in 2 birds, and vegetal debris in 1. 
April. — F ive birds. The insects found were : — 2 Woolly Aphis 
(Eriosoma lanigera) ; 2 Aphis ova ; 2 pupae of the Codling Moth 
(Carpocapsa pomonella) ; 2 small Muscid larvae ; also 5 Chickweed 
seeds (Stellaria media) ; 9 grains of wheat and 1 pea. Beetle debris 
was found in 2 birds. 
May. — Nineteen birds examined. The insects found were : — 2 Apion 
Weevils (Apion sp. ? ) ; 1 Earwig ( Forficula auricularia) ; 1 Apple 
Blossom Weevil ( Anthonomus pomorum) ; 1 Sciara Midge larva 
(Sciara sp. ? ) ; 50 Plum Aphides (Aphis pruni) ; 1 Rove Beetle body 
(Staphylinid)* ; 1 small Muscid larva; 2 Yellow Springtails (Smyn- 
thurus luteus). Also the following weed seeds •: — 4 Chickweed (Stellaria 
media) ; 4 Spurrey (Spergula arvensis) ; 1 Milium (Milium effusum) ; 
1 Goosefoot (Chenopodium sp. ? ) ; 3 Plantain (Plantago sp. ? ). Grains 
of wheat, 12. Stone, grit in all. Grass in 1, and decayed vegetal 
matter in 3. 
