20 
Report on the Food Found in 
ii. — THE STARLING ( Sturnus vulgaris, Linn.). 
The specimens of starlings were received with much greater 
regularity than in the case of the rooks. No fewer than 
74S birds were received and examined. Of these 52 were 
quite empty, leaving 696 whose food contents have been 
tabulated. 
Specimens of starlings were received from 76 districts 
situated in 23 counties in England, and from 1 district in 
Wales, 3 in Scotland, and 4 in Ireland. 
Food of the Starling. 
As in the case of the rook, no nestlings were examined, 
although from personal observations one of the writers feels 
sure that the major portion of the food of the young starlings 
is of insect nature. It will be seen from the tables that 
the starling’s chief food was composed of injurious insects 
and allied creatures, except in November and. in one year, 
December, when grain practically equalled the insects and 
mollusca. Starlings, it seems, will always take grain, but 
only in such small quantities as almost to be a negligible 
factor. They seem to eat mollusca consistently, quite a 
number of small snails being found in a large proportion 
of the birds. Many of these mollusca, when present in numbers, 
are decidedly harmful. The chief insect food from January 
to May or June, and again from December to January, seems 
to be Leather Jackets. 
The number of Wireworms found was small, except in 
February, March, and April. On the other hand, the starling 
appears to devour great numbers of Weevils, especially 
the Pea, Bean, Clover, and Tare Sitones , which were found 
in all months of the year except August, November and 
June. Otiorhynchus Weevils were found from February to 
May, and in July and August and, in one year, October 
and December. Weevils of the genus Hypera were found 
from January to August and October and December, and 
Barynotus Weevils from January to July. Some of the 
Lepidopterous larvae of the Dark Arches Moth ( Xylophasia 
polyodon), great numbers of Earwigs (Forficula auricularia), 
and various Carabid larvae also seem -to be eaten. Some of 
the latter are injurious, but most are beneficial. Bibio larvae 
are also eaten, and starlings seem very partial to the small 
Dung Beetles (Aphodius). An occasional Chafer grub, Surface 
grub, Aphid, Swift Moth larva and pupa, a$ well as larvae of 
