the Rook, Starling and Chaffinch. 
13 
as a grain destroyer than beneficial as an insect destroyer ; 
nevertheless, it destroyed a considerable number of harmful 
insects and a few moll use a. 
I 9 I 3- 
January. — Seven birds examined. In these there was no trace 
of any insect or animal food of any kind. They contained 103 grains 
of wheat and 19 of oats. Stones were found in 3 birds ; roots in 1 ; 
grass in 1 ; moss in 1 ; twigs in 1 ; and pieces of newspaper in 1. 
February. — Seven birds examined. These contained 3 Carabid 
larvae* and the remains of 1 Snail ( Helix sp. ?) ; also 230 wheat grains 
and husks ; 7 oat grains and husks ; 2 beans. They all contained stones 
and some pieces of root, grass or twigs. Two birds contained pieces of 
mangold. 
March. — -Of the 28 birds examined, 1 was quite empty. The 
remaining 27 contained: — 1 Wireworm ; 3 Ground Beetles ( Steropus 
madidus ) ; 3 Earwigs ( Forficula auricularia) ; 1 Carabid larva ; 
1 Weevil sp. ? ; 1 Noctuid pupa ( Agrotis ) f ; 1 Dung Beetle ( Geotrupes ) | ; 
1 Millepede ( Julus sp.) ; 2 Banded Snails ( Helicella caper ata) ; 2 Garden 
Snails ( Helix aspersa). Much grain was found, including wheat, 192 ; 
oats, 256 ; barley and husks, 329 ; peas, 7 ; Indian corn, 2; beans, 2. 
Most of the birds also contained stones, chalk, brick, grit, and cinders; 
1 contained bones, another pieces of egg shell, and, in several, moss, 
grass and decayed vegetal matter were found. 
April. — Fourteen birds were received and examined. In these 
were found 41 Leather Jackets ( Tipula oleracea) ; 2 larvae of the Dark 
Arches Moth ( Xylophasia polyodon) and the remains of 1 Carabid 
Beetle (?). Four birds also contained much beetle debris. 
The food again was chiefly in the form of grain, including 267 wheat 
husks ; 70 whole wheat grains ; 158 oat husks ; no barley husks ; 7 
beans and 2 acorns. A mass of beetle debris was found in 1 bird. 
Stones, grit and chalk occurred in 7 birds, and pieces of root in 2. 
May. — The 17 birds examined contained 18 Leather Jackets 
[Tipula sp.) ; 2 Click Beetles ( Agriotes sputator ) ; 8 Dark Arches Moth 
larvae [Xylophasia polyodon) ; 2 Garden Swift Moth larvae [Hepiaius 
lupulinus) ; 3 Earwigs [Forficula auricularia). Fragments of at least 
7 Millepedes [Julus sp.) ; 1 Centipede [Geophilus longicornis) * A 
single Earthworm [Lumbricus) ,* and 574 grains and husks of corn as 
follows : — 120 wheat grains, 190 wheat husks ; 50 barlejr grains ; 42 
oat grains, and 170 oat husks ; 1 pea and 1 bean. Three birds con- 
tained much Coleopterous debris ; 2 contained 10 unknown noctuid 
pupae ; i, the head of a Lepidopterous larva, and 1 a piece of a Carabid; 
stones and grit were found in 8 ; cabbage leaves in 2 ; clover in 1 and 
grass in 1. 
June. — No birds received. 
July. — In 3 birds examined there were 2 Chafer larvae [Melolontha 
vulgaris) and 1 Banded Snail [Helicella capcrata ) ; also 240 oats and oat 
husks. 
August. — No birds received, 
.. f These two cannot be identified, being only fragments, and are not, 
therefore, included in the table. 
