the Rook, Starling and Chaffinch. 
5i 
Nevertheless it is hoped that the result of this detailed 
investigation, in which particularly the insect portions of the 
food and the seeds of weeds were carefully identified, will be 
regarded as a considerable advance in our definite knowledge 
of the food of these birds. 
I.— FOOD OF THE ROOK. 
Animal Food. 
(a) Insects . — The greater portion of the animal food consisted of 
insects, which were recorded in 105 cases. 
Coleoptera . — In 80 cases beetles or their larvae were present ; 
“ wireworms ” or their adults being found 19 times. 
Lepidoptera occurred in 14 cases, larvae being found in 12 instances 
and scales and other remains of adults twice. 
Diptera occurred 56 times, all stages being represented, but the 
larval form (leather-jackets) of the crane-flies was predominant ; 
they were found in 32 cases. 
Hymenoptera were found on 6 occasions and included 2 wasps, 
1 ant and 1 ichneumon. 
Orthoptera occurred 4 times ; earwigs were found 4 times and a 
grasshopper once. 
( b ) Mollnsca . — In 9 cases molluscs were found, including 2 slugs. 
(c) Vermes. — Remains of earthw r orms, including their egg capsules, 
occurred in 46 instances ; remains of another Oligochaet once ; in 3 
gizzards there were Nematode worms. 
(d) Myriapoda. — Centipedes and millepedes occurred 5 times. 
(e) Arachnida. — Spiders occurred twice, and “ harvestman 
(. Phalangid ) once. 
(/) Other Animal Matter. — In 1 gizzard the remains of a shrew were 
found and in another case the bones of a frog, and in 5 cases portions 
of egg-shell (generally fowl’s) were found. Unrecognisable animal 
matter occurred once. 
Vegetable Food. 
Grain. — The greater part of the vegetable food recorded consisted of 
grain, which was found in 157 cases. Oats were in greatest abundance 
and were recorded in 98 instances ; barley occurred 55 times, wheat 
28 times, and maize was found in 11 cases. 
Seeds other than grain. — Seeds occurred in only 13 cases ; in 6 there 
were portions of bean ; seeds of ash were present once ; seed of Ruppia 
sp. once ; seed of charlock once ; a single instance of a ranunculaceous 
weed seed ; 1 case of a single holly and cotoneaster (?) seed in the same 
gizzard ; and there were 2 cases of seed the identification of which 
was impossible. 
Fruit. — Remains of fruit, almost entirely in the form of acorns, 
were found in 33 cases ; portions of acorns occurred in 31 instances and 
walnut once. In 1 gizzard part of a small unripe fruit was found. 
Roots. — Roots occurred in 63 gizzards. Potato was in greatest 
abundance, it having been found in 43 cases ; turnip occurred 7 times ; 
mangold . twice ; grass roots twice ; a root (probably wild carrot) 
once ; and earthnut once. In 6 gizzards unrecognisable roots were 
present. 
Herbage. — Pieces of grass occurred 29 times, but in some cases there 
was only a blade or two ; clover leaves were found once. 
