30 
Report on the Food Found in 
Summary, 1913. 
It will be seen from the table that, as in the preceding 
year, the starling was doing far more good than harm in all 
months of the year except in November, when 2 birds were 
found to have eaten 25 grains of wheat and only 10 harmful 
animals. In the previous year this bird was doing slightly 
more harm than good from October to December if the amount 
of grain eaten be compared with the harmful arthropods alone, 
but when the number of harmful mollusca are added to the 
harmful arthropoda the positions are reversed in October 
and December, and equalised in November. One may say, 
therefore, that in 1912 the starling was doing more good than 
fiarm during at least 10 months out of the 12. The same 
applies in some measure to 1913, but more marked harm 
was done by devouring grain in November and more pro- 
nounced good in December. The sudden rise recorded in 
September up to 95 harmful insects per bird is, perhaps, not 
normal, as a large number of Tipulid eggs found in the birds 
were counted as separate organisms. 
Unfortunately all 5 birds examined in June were quite 
empty. November and December were the only months when 
any quantity of grain was found, whilst in 1912 much was found 
in October, November, and December, although in October 
and December more good was done than harm. 
A Parasitic Worm found in the Starling. — S everal 
parasitic worms were found in the gizzard of the starling in 
1912 and 1913, as isolated specimens. Dr. Shipley has 
examined these on behalf of the writers and names them 
A scar is ensicaudata. Specimens were obtained in January, 
April, June and September. 
I 9 I * * * 5 4- 
J anuary. — Four birds examined. In these were found : — 49 Leather 
Jackets ( Tipula oleracea, T. paludosa and T. lateralis) ; 2 Wireworms 
(. Agriotes ) ; 6 Click Beetles ( Agriotes sputator, 4; Athons hcemorrhoidalis , 
2) ; 24 Clover Weevils ( Sitones flavescens ) ; 2 Weevils ( Sitones sp. ? ) ; 
5 Carabid larval skins* ; 2 Hypera Weevils ( Hypera punctata ) ; 3 
Muscid larvae ( Calliphora ) ; 2 Stratyomid larvae ; 1 Hairy Snail 
(Hygromia hispida ). No trace of grain was found, but 1 grass seed and 
1 seed each of Spurrey ( Spergula arvensis) and Knotgrass ( Polygonum 
aviculare). Three of the birds contained much unidentifiable beetle 
debris, and in 1 were found bits of roots. 
February. — Thirty-one birds examined. In these occurred : — 87 
Leather Jackets ( Tipula oleracea ) ; 9 Wireworms ; 9 Click Beetles 
(A. sputator and A. hcernorrhoidalis) ; 17 Pea and Bean Weevils ( Sitones 
