the Rook, Starling and Chaffinch. 
55 
more than compensated for by the large quantity of injurious 
insects taken at other times of the year. 
The records of this investigation so far show that the starling, 
if not too abundant, must certainly be regarded as a friend 
of the agriculturist. 
III.— FOOD OF THE CHAFFINCH. 
A nimal Food. 
(a) Insects. — Practically the whole of the animal food consisted of 
insects, which were recorded 128 times. 
Coleoptera. — In 79 instances beetles or their larvae were present and 
these included Rhyncophora (weevils) 31 times and remains of 
Chrysomelidce 7 times. 
Lepidoptera occurred in 10 cases, and these included remains of 
imagines 3 times. 
Diptera occurred 34 times ; no larvae of the crane-fly (leather- 
jackets) were found, but an adult crane fly ( Tipulid ) containing 
15 eggs occurred once, and an adult crane-fly without eggs once. 
Hymenoptera occurred twice. 
Hemiptera : Aphids (plant lice) occurred twice. 
(b) Arachnida. — A spider was found once ; 3 spider embryos 
(probably) occurred once, and fragments of mites once. 
(c) Vermes. — An earthworm cocoon was found once. 
(d) Other Animal Matter. — Feathers occurred once. 
Vegetable Food. 
Seeds. — The greater part of the vegetable food recorded consisted 
of seeds of weeds. They were found in 242 cases ; this number 
includes amongst others such well-known species as Dock, Chickweed, 
and Knotgrass. Seeds of Dock ( Rumex ) occurred 34 times, Chickweed 
(Stellaria media) was found 67 times, Knotgrass ( Polygonum ) 63 times, 
and Timothy grass ( Phleum pratense) 32 times. 
Grain occurred 146 times. Wheat was in greatest abundance, 
having been found 63 times ; oats occurred 33 times, maize twice and 
barley twice. 
Seeds of value , other than Grain. Seeds of value to the farmer 
occurred 13 times ; these included clovers ( Trifolium ) 11 times, remains 
of Crucifer (probably Turnip) once, and Garden Pea (Pi sum) once. 
Seeds of doubtful economic importance occurred once. 
Seeds (unidentifiable) occurred twice. 
Herbage. — Moss, leaves and fragments of a leaf were found once, 
Callitriche leaves occurred twice, young floret (probably Carduus) 
occurred once, triturated cotyledons of (probably) Crucifer occurred 5 
times, a leaf of V accinium Myrtillus was found once, Sphagnum frag- 
ments occurred 3 times, 2 leaves of (probably) Montia fontana were 
found once, and flower anthers occurred three times. 
Fruit. — Remains of fruit (disintegrated) occurred once. 
Miscellaneous Vegetable Matter occurred 46 times. 
Miscellaneous Matter occurred 13 1 times. 
Summary of Results. 
Summarising the contents of the 357 chaffinches examined, 
weed seeds were in greatest abundance, having been found in 
