the Rook, Starling and Chaffinch. 
9 
and examined. The number of each of the 3 species was as 
follows : — 
Rooks . . 
Starlings 
Chaffinches 
2 77 
748 
527 
T552 
The birds were received from some 100 localities spread over 
25 counties. Specimens were also received from Scotland 
(3 localities), Ireland (4), and Wales (1). 
Acknowledgments. — The writers must express their in- 
debtedness to numerous correspondents, who have forwarded 
birds ; also to Mr. W. H. Britten, F.E.S., of the Hope Museum, 
Oxford, for naming the Coleoptera, to Mr Alfred E. Craven, 
of Haselmere, Ore, Hastings, for so kindly examining the 
Mollusca, and to Dr. Shipley, Master of Christ’s College, 
Cambridge, for naming the Worms. 
1. — THE ROOK ( Coyvus frugilegus , Linn.). 
The exact economic status of the rook has for long been 
undecided. The results of this survey of its feeding habits 
point very decidedly to the rook being much more harmful 
than beneficial. It must, however, be clearly understood 
that, in this series of observations, no facts regarding the 
food of nestlings are recorded, or, as far as the writers are 
aware, have ever been systematically made. Fledged young 
have been examined by Newstead in Cheshire during May* ; 
these contained Noctuid larvae, Geotrupes, Click Beetles, wheat, 
and pieces of potato tubers. More detailed facts on the 
food of nestlings are wanted, however, before these results 
are to be taken as definite. 
The number of rooks received by the writers from January, 
1912, to December, 1912, was 146 ; from January, 1913, to 
December, 1913, 92, and from January, 1914, to May, 1914, 39. 
Thus 277 rooks in all were received and opened, of which 9 
were quite empty. 
Specimens for examination were received from 53 localities 
representing 23 counties in England, as well as from 1 district 
in Wales, 2 in Scotland, and 2 in Ireland. Several have also 
been sent without any data, and have been examined and 
included in the results given here. 
* Journ. Bd. Agri., Supp. No. g, p. 52, 1908. 
