48 
Report on the Food Found in 
1913. 
Month 
Grain and 
useful Seed. 
Harmful 
Seeds. 
Harmful 
Mollusca. 
No. of 
Birds. 
January 
• • 
15 
33 
0 
1 1 
February . . 
5 ° 
8 
O 
21 
March 
143 * 
57 
0 
37 
April 
47 
16 
0 
30 
May 
4 
2 
0 
15 
June 
3 
2 
0 
4 
July 
3 
2 
0 
8 
August 
5 
O 
0 
2 
September 
0 
0 
0 
5 
October 
63 
3 
0 
22 
November . . 
* 
. . 
nt 
11 
0 
5 
December . . 
4i + 
5 
0 
1 1 
Total . . 
• • 
385 
139 
0 
171 
General Summary and Conclusions. 
The chaffinch seemed to be mainly insectivorous from 
May to October in 1912, in 1913 only so in June and 
November, and in 1914 in May; for the other months 
the insect food was very small. In 1912 weed seeds were 
largely eaten in January, September and December and to 
some extent in February and November. In 1913 the most 
seeds were eaten in January and November and a certain 
amount in February, March, April, October and December. 
In 1914 only a few were eaten during the five months. 
The birds seemed to eat a considerable amount of grain in 
January and September and some in February, March, April, 
August, November and December of 1912. In 1913 most of the 
grain was eaten from January to April and again in August, 
October, November and December. In 1914 still more was eaten 
in January, and a considerable amount from February to April. 
It is extremely difficult to form any judgment regarding the 
economic status of the chaffinch, but from the food contents 
* Including 6 Mustard .Seeds. f Including 4 Cabbage Seeds. 
| Including 4 Pine and 4 Canary Seeds. 
