the Rook, Starling and Chaffinch. 
21 
Muscid and Stratyomid flies were also found in them. The 
chief mollusc a eaten consisted of the Hairy Snail (Hygromia 
hispida), the Banded Snail ( Hclicella capcrata and Hclicella 
virgata), the Strawberry Snail ( Hygromia rufescens), all of 
which are harmful. Amongst neutral mollusca were found 
Cochlicopa lubrica, Pyramidula rotundata , Vallonia pulchella, 
Vallonia nitidula and an occasional harmful Grey Slug 
( Agriolimax agrestis). A few Centipedes and Millepedes, and 
occasionally an Earthworm or a Wood Louse may also occur. 
The following weed seeds were found : — -Spurrey (Spergula 
arvensis) ; Knotgrass (Polygonum sp.) ; Goosefoot (Chenopo- 
dium sp.) ; Sheep's Sorrel (. Rumex Acetosella ) ; Spear Thistle 
(Carduus lanceolatus) ; Buttercup (Ranunculus sp.) ; Bird’s- 
Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) , and Chickweed (Stellar ia 
media) . 
Nature of Food, 1912. 
The following list includes, month by month, the chief 
organisms found in the 392 starlings examined in 1912. 
In addition to much grit, stones, etc., many of the birds 
contained quantities of vegetal and insect and other animal 
debris, which could not possibly be identified. 
January. — The crops of the 6 birds sent in were all very full. 
Amongst insects were found 4 Leather Jackets (Tip ala oleracea ) ; 
3 Wireworms ( Agriotes sp.) ; 15 Click Beetles ( Agriotes sputator) ; 
2 Ground Beetle larvae, apparently Pterostichus ; f 3 Pea and Bean 
Weevils (Sitones lineata) ; 4 larvae of Muscid type ; 1 Noctuid larval 
skin, apparently the Turnip Moth (A grot is segetis ) ; 1 Leptid larva 
(. Leptis sp. ?) ; 1 Staphylinid Beetle body;* 1 Dung Beetle (Aphodius) ;* 
16 Hairy Snails (Hygromia hispida) ; 14 Strawberry or Rufous Snails 
(H. rufescens ) ; and the following neutral mollusca : — 3 Pyramidula 
rotundata; 14 Vallonia pulchella ; 5 Vitrea radiata ; 1 Vertigo 
pygmcea. 
A small amount of grain was found, including 17 wheat husks, 2 
whole wheat grains and 5 oat husks. In 2 birds there were some 
clover leaves ; in 1, pieces of a brome grass ; and in another, heads of the 
yellow trefoil ; and 4 contained beetle debris. 
February. — Sixty birds were examined during this month. They 
contained 57 Leather Jackets (Tipula oleracea and Tipula paludosa) ; 
13 Wireworms ; 2 Click Beetles (Agriotes lineata) ; 1 Surface larva 
( Agrotis exclamationis ) ; 24 Muscid larvae and 2 pupae, probably 
Hylemyia ) ; 31 Carabid larvae (Pterostichus) ; 3 Pea and Bean Weevils 
(Sitones lineata) ; 10 Clover Weevils (Sitones flavescens) ; 2 Sitones 
hispidula ; 7 Hypera Weevils (Hyper a punctata) ; 3 Raspberry 
Weevils (Otiorhynchus picipes) ; other beetles were Largitarsus luridus, 
Scop., and Sciaphilus muricatus , Fabr., 1 each. Earwigs (Forficula 
auricularia), 27 ; 1 Ladybird Beetle (Adalia bipunctata)* ; 3 Stratyomid 
larvae; 1 Centipede (Geophilus longicornis).* 
f The larval Pterostichus have been taken as injurious when found m birds 
killed near strawberry land, and beneficial elsewhere. 
