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DEPARTMENT OE ACRIClLTliRE,
NEW SOLTH WALES.
SCIENCE BULLETIN, @f July, 1918.
No. IS.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CHARACTER OF
THE STOMACH AND CROP CONTENTS.
A Summary of Work done by
J. B. CLELAND, M.D,, Principal Microbiologist, Department of Public Health.
J. H. MAIDEN, Government Botanist of New South Wales, and Director,
Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
W. W. FROGGATT, F.LS., Government Entomologist.
E. W. FERGUSON, M.B., Ch.M., Assistant Microbiologist, Department
of Public Health.
C. T. MUSSON, Lecturer in Botany and Entomology, Hawkesbury
Agricultural College.
Workers in the respective branches of Economic Science covered
by this series of Science Bulletins will receive such of them as may
be of use in their special branches of study upon application to the
Under Secretary and Director, Department of Agriculture, Sydney.
•YDNEY: WILLIAM APPLCGATfc GULLICK, OOVERNMEnT PRI NTI:b.~1918
No. o( Copies issaed. 2,000.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
NEW SOUTH WALES,
SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
PHE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS,
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CHARACTER OF
THE STOMACH AND CROP CONTENTS.
A Summary of Work done by
J. B. CLELAND, M.D., Principal Microbiologist, Department of Public Health.
H. MAIDEN, Government Botanist of New South Wales, and Director, Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
W. W. FROGGATT, F.L.S., Government Entomologist.
E. W. FERGUSON, M.B., Ch.M. Assistant Microbiologist, Department of Public Health.
C. T. MUSSON, Lecturer in Botany and Entomology, Hawkesbury Agricultural College.
SYDNEY ; WILLIAM APPLEGATE GULLICK, GOV'ERNMENT PRINTER,
1918.
134991 A
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAQI.
Introduction , ... 3
Broad Summary of Results ... ... 4
Detail Summaries and Verdicts on Individual Birds, &c 5-
Food of Birds from Botanical Aspect , ... 11
Lists of Birds Feeding on Particular Foods ... 12
Appendices :r—
Introductory Note to Appendices I and II 22
Appendix I— Tabulated Examination of the Contents of Stomachs and Crops
of Species of Birds examined ... ... ... ... ... 24
Appendix II — Tabulated Examination of the Contents of Stomachs and Crops
of Individual Birds examined 44
Appendix III — Tabulated Examination of the Contents of Stomachs and Crops
of Individual Birds examined by Mr. C. T. Musson 100
NOTE.
The matter contained in this Bulletin was originally collected and arranged with a
view to publication about April, 1915. Various circumstances connected with the war
have delayed publication until the present time.
Depart/aent of Agriculture.
^EW SOUTH WALES.
SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
The food of Australian Birds.
An Investigation into the Character of the
Stomach and Crop Contents.
J. B. CLELA,ND, M.D., Pincipal Microbiologist, Department of Public Health.
Introduction.
When systematic investigations were undertaken with the object of
attempting to control the blow-fly pest in sheep, it was realised that various
birds might play an important part in keeping these flies in check. It was,
therefore, decided to make an examination, as extensive as possible, of all
birds in sheep-breeding districts which might play a possible part in this
direction .
As a considerable amount of data had already been accumulated with
regard to the food of Australian birds in general, it was decided to incorporate
in one complete Bulletin all the information in our possession as regards
the food of wild birds in Australia, which would comprise also the information
obtained more directly in connection with the blow-fly investigations.
The present Bulletin is the result of an analysis of the various data thus
collected. In addition to proving of value to breeders of sheep, it is trusted
that it will be found of considerable use to orchardists, wheat growers and
gardeners, as well as to those in charge of our forests.
The information has been arranged in various ways, so as to meet the needs,
as far as possible, of those consulting the Bulletin. There is, first of an, a
short summary of the food of, and a verdict on, various birds or groups of
birds, the most important being taken fijst. This is followed by lists
indicating the birds which feed on particular kinds of food of more or less
economic importance, the birds in some cases being injurious to human
interests, and in other cases aiding the work of man.
In Appendix I will be found a tabulated examination of the contents
of the stomachs and crops of each species of bird examined. Full details
are given of the animal and vegetable food, and remarks are appended
opposite the species, amplifying these details. Appendix I has been com-
piled from detailed information given in Appendices II and III, which latter
show the actual food found in the case of each individual bird examined.-
SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Appendices Hand III should prove of tjLe^^t vcAwo oo fiituro Avorkcrsin this
invercsb'.iig economic field, in?.smiich as they form a basis shov.'ing the food
o- individual birds, v/hicli can bo added co irom cime i;o time as furcher birds
are examined, and then when a sufficient numbtr of these are available, a
iabulavcd examination such as appears in Appendix I could be again drawn
up indicating the food of various species of birds in the light of more extended
experience. Obviously before any individual species of bird can be rightly
assessed economically from the point of view of ios food habits, a large number
of individuals, preferably several hundred, must be examined in detail.
To enable tho results of previous workers to be added to the investigations
of later workers, the data as regard i individual birds must be available, as a
(ummary of the food of a species will not necessarily indicate the proclivity
of the individuals oi that species to feed on a particular food.
The thanks of chc compil^.rs cf this Bulletin are due to the gentlemen
whose names are mentioned in the introduction to Appendices I and II
on page 22, who have £0 mateiially assisted in the work by forwarding
specimens of birds for examination. To the cordial co-opereAion of
botanists, entomologists, ornrc ho legists, and other workers in special
branches of Natural History, the present Bulletin owes much of its value.
The result shows again the important bearing thb different sciences have
upon each other, and how all work together to the ultimate good of the
whob community when brought to be .r in practical applicauon to meet the
n , cds of our primary producers.
Br ad Summary of Results, espesially from th3 Point of View of the
Blow-fly Pest in Sheep.
The value of these examinations would have been much enhanced could
a greater number of birds have been examined. From the results obtained,
however, the following summarised results may be given as being of most
importance from the point of viev; of the investigations into the blow-fly
pest.
Sparroiv and Starling. — Though useful to a slight extent, they do mucli
more harm than good. There is not the slightest prospect of their ever being
eliminated from Australia. Their presence should not in any way be
fostered, and, according to circumstances, most energetic means may be
adopted to ensure their destruction in localised areas, provided such means
do not jeopardise the lives of useful native birds. Neither the starling nor
the sparrow apparently plays any definite part in controlling the blow-fly
rest.
Crow.— Whilst doing marked harm at times, the crow undoubtedly is on
other occasions of decided value. By destroying dead carcases it tends to
prevent the multiplication of the blow-flies that blow sheep. It is a bird
that can practically never be exterminated, on account of its wary habits.
33efore any sheep-owner decides to adopt energetic measures to destroy it in
liis neighbourhood he should carefully calculate as to whether its value in
his particular instance is not greater than the losses caused by it.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.
Other Birds. — Of the large number examined, with the exception of one
or two notorious exceptions, the vast majority serve a more or less definitely
useful purpose in maintaining the balance of nature as regards the various
species of insects, and therefore should be encouraged to the utmost possible
extent. Only a very few have been found to feed on blow-flies, and as these
do so only occasionally they can play no definite part in controlling this
pest.
Detailed Summaries and Verdicts on Individual Birds or Groups of
Birds.
Crows. — For many years ornithologists were under the impression that
there were two common species of crow in the southern parts of Australia —
Corvus coronoides, the hazel-eyed crow, and Corone australis, the white-
eyed crow or raven. A quite distinct species, Bennett's crow, is much
smaller and rarer. The two common species of crow were also considered
to differ as regards the fluffy bases of the feathers of the neck, being white
in one and greyish-white in the other. Gregory Mathews has recently
gone into the question fully, and considers that in New South Wales, at any
rate in the middle and southern parts, only one species of bird is concerned,
the hazel eyes becoming eventually white. The question is still under
consideration, but it is more or less of technical importance only since the
habits of the two species, if they are distinct, are apparently identical.
The thirty-eight crows dealt with in the report have, therefore, all been
placed under one specific name, Corvus coronoides.
An analysis of the stomach contents of these thirty-eight birds shows that
occasionally they eat wheat, maize and oat grains, and field peas. Their
depredations in this direction are, however, insignificant. As regards
animal food apart from carrion, mice were found in three crows, grass-
hoppers in six, the larvsB of various moths (including in one case cutworms)
in five, and blow-fly maggots or pupa3 in two. All these items of animal food
comprise creatures more or less injurious to human undertakings, but tlio
amount of these pests destroyed by the crows does not amount really to r?ry
much, though the Entomologist states that he considers it one of the most
valuable insectivorous birds in the western country, as well as being a
scavenger. The latter statement, that the bird is a scavenger, is the chief
point in its favour. By tearing the carcases of sheep and cattle to pieces
to obtain its food it tends to destroy mechanically a number of fly maggots,
whilst others are scattered around and exposed, often to a hot sun ; moreover,
the carcase itself is more or less torn and broken up so as to dry more
rapidly, thus rendering it unsuitable as food for the larvae of blow-flies.
Summed up, as the result of these investigations the crow may be said
to be, on the negative side of the ledger, negligibly injurious from the
point of view of eating crop grains ; on the positive side of the ledger, some-
what useful as occasionally destroying mice, grasshoppers, moth larva?, and
blow-fly maggots, and very useful in helping to dispose of carrion, thereby
tending to prevent the breeding of blow-flies therein. As a set-off to the
latter, the experience of sheep-owners that crows frequently destroy the
t SCIENCE BULLETlxX, No. 15.
feyes of tired ot enfeebled sheep or lambs acts as a grave countercheck to its
talue. The crow, in fact, may be summed up as being almost equally good
and bad, and local circumstances should always be taken into consideration
before active measures are undertaken for its destruction. It seems doubt^
fill whether it should be proscribed throughout the State as an entirely
undesirable bird.
The Starling. — The stoniachs of seventy-three of these introduced birds
were examined. They were obtained from various parts of the State,
especially^ Wagga, Uralla, and Richmond. As regards the vegetable food
of those examined, wheat grains were found in a few and fruit in one.
This result, however, does not by any means indicate clearly the destructive
tendencies in the direction of vegetable food, as the accessibility of such
food must be considered at the time the bird was shot. Unquestionably
starlings feed greatly on cultivated fruits and on cultivated grains during
tlie season when these are available.
, As regards the insect food of these seventy- three birds, we found that
locusts or grasshoppers were present in five, wireworms in two, cutworms in
thirty-four, flies in four, psyllids in one, and scale (?) in one. The cut-
worms were found in most of the starlings obtained in the Wagga district,
these having been shot while this pest was present. Flies were found in
four. These could not be identified as blow-flies. It is, however, likely,
though not proved as yet, that the starling does destroy a few of these
insects. As indicated by the list of insect foods, the starling can unques-
tionably play a useful purpose in the direction of destroying insect pests.
. Summed up, it may be stated that the starling does marked harm to fruit
gardens and that it does some harm to crops, but that it does some good
in destroying certain insect pests, such as cutworms, when these are present
in abundance and perhaps other food is scarce. The starling has spread
very extensively over Australia, and it is a prolific breeder. Moreover, it
interferes with the breeding-places of many of our useful insectivorous
birds. It is also so wily and so hard to approach that it will never be
possible to eliminate it from Australia, or even to diminish materially its
numbers, whatever human means are adopted to attempt this. Its virtues
are unquestionably less than its defects, and no encouragement whatever
should be given to its appearance in any part of the country. On the other
hand, any discouragement offered is likely to have little effect.
The Sparrow. — One hundred and twenty-seven sparrows were examined,
the majority of them coming from Richmond, New South Wales. Sixty-four
were found to feed on wheat and maize. Various grass seeds were found
in others. Occasionally they have been found to feed on white ants, cabbage-
moth larvae, cutworms, locusts, blow-flies, and aphids. The large amount of
grain eaten far outweighs any value that the sparrow may have as an
i-nsectivorous bird during the period when such grain is available, but during
<jther seasons of the year it probably plays a mildly useful part. Attempts
at eradication seem to have little effect upon it, but they should be
persisted in as far as possible without endangering other birds.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.
The question as to whether we wonld be worse off without any sparrows
than with them is apparently negatived by the position in Western Australia.
The sparrow up to the present time has not reached Western Australia,
and yet that State is not any worse off than the Eastern States through their
absence. It may be pointed out that whatever attempts are made to destroy
sparrows entirely they are bound to be unsuccessful, though the numbers
may be materially reduced.
. Magpies.— 'Though occasionally eating wheat, magpies are more essen-
tially insectivorous, frequently feeding on locusts or grasshoppers, fly larv89,
&c. They should be rigidly protected.
Magpie Larh.^This bird occasionally feeds on maize and wheat obtained
near fowl-yards, &c., but it is doubtful whether it touches crops. It is also
found to eat plague locusts, grasshoppers, cockchafer larvae, &c. It is one
of our foremost useful birds.
Butcher Birds. — These are found frequently to feed on grasshoppers, as
well as moths, and in spite of occasionally destroying small birds are
obviously useful.
Silver-eyes. — The stomach contents of fifty-five Silver-eyes have been
exarfiined. Forty-five of these contained vegetable food, chiefly fruits of
various kinds. Thirty-two contained insect food. Amongst the insects
occasionally eaten were cabbage moths, froghoppers, psyllids, thrips, aphids^
black scale, and plant bugs. During the fruit season there is not the
slightest question that the Silver-eye does a very considerable amount of
damage to orchards. By feeding on the fruits of such pests as blackberries
and lantana and passing the seeds in their droppings. Silver-eyes act as-
potent disseminators of these and other plants. However, during the season
when fruit is not ripe they apparently serve a definitely useful purpose
in destroying certain insect pests. As energetic measures adopted for the
destruction of Silver-eyes have never yet been successful in materially
reducing their number in any locality there is little likelihood, whatever
action be taken, of eliminating this bird from any particular part.
From an assessment of its value it may be safely stated that energetic
means should be adopted to keep the birds away from fruit during the
fruiting season; in this way the fruit may be saved, but these attempts
are not likely to successfully eliminate all the birds from the orchard -^
affected. The birds that remain will during the rest of the year serve the:
orchardists in good stead by helping to keep down insect pests.
Quails. — Of the four species of quail examined three showed that they
fed on grass seeds and occasionally wheat grains ; the amount of grain eaten
is probably negligible, especially wh'en it is considered that quail are never
very plentiful.
Pigeons and Doves. — These are seed and fruit eaters, and none are of
definite economic importance either as useful or obnoxious birds.
Tecioral Rail. — This bird appears of some value, as grasshoppers and
cutworms have been found in the stomach contents.
S SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Plovers. — The spurwiiig and black-breast(xl plovers apparently feed
extensively on insects, included amongst which are some harmful species
such as cutworms. They are evidently useful birds to be encouraged.
Water Birds (Dottrells, Stilts, Coots, Grehes,Herom,Duclcs,&c.). — None
of these can be considered of definite economic importance one way or the
other, with the exception of the Straw-necked Ibis, whose very great value
in eating locusts and other grass-eating pests is well known.*
Hawlcs. — Some of these birds are useful in destroying mice and sparrows,
as, for instance, the Black-shouldered Kite, as well as the Brown Hawk
and the Little Kestrel (Cerchneis). The Brown Hawk and the Kestrel
also eat locusts and grasshoppers, whilst the Black-cheeked Falcon eats
cicadas. Some of the larger species, of course, do harm in destroying
chickens and useful small insectivorous birds. We have had no opportunity
of examining the stomach contents of the Eagle-hawk, but from reports
this is known to be at times a highly destructive bird to sheep.
Owls. — Three species of owls were examined; all showed the presence of
insect food. They are useful in feeding on grasshoppers and beetles, as
well as in destroying mice.
Pan'ots and Cockatoos. — These are chiefly seed and honey eaters. Grain
seeds were found in white cockatoos, which are known to be very destruc-
tive frequently to crops. Galahs similarly feed on useful grain. Two
Pennant's Parrakeets shot at Wagga had apparently been feeding on culti-
vated olives.
Frog-mouths (Mopokes). — These birds feed extensively on insects,
amongst which grasshoppers were noticed. They are probably highly useful.
Dollar-'hird. — This is evidently a very useful species. It feeds on cicadas,
army-worm moths, &c.
Kingfishers. — The stomach contents of three Laughing Jackasses
examined showed the presence of grasshoppers in one, and beetles in all
three. In addition, therefore, to small snakes and mice this bird would
seem to be a fairly coiisistent insect feeder. It is obviously a very useful
Bpecies.
The Sacred Kingfisher also feeds on locusts and grasshoppers as well as
beetles, and is a useful bird.
The Bee-eater. — The chief food of this bird is essentially bees; as is
well known, it may be exceedingly destructive in this connection. The
occasional injurious insects that it eats probably in no way compensate
for the bees destroyed.
Cuchoos. — All the cuckoos are evidently highly useful insectivorous
birds, feeding especially on various caterpillars. One Pallid Cuckoo, for
instance, had twenty-five cutworm larva3 in its stomach. Their useful
propensities are to a certain extent counterbalanced by the loss" of young
insectivorous native birds thrown out of the nests of the foster parents by
the young cuckoo.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.
Swallows. — These are all very useful from their insectivorous habita.
House flies have been found in the House Swallow. They destroy large
quantities of mosquitoes and gnats whilst hawking over the water.
Jachy Winter. — This bird is obviously useful, as shown by the variety
of the insect contents of its stomach, amongst which blow-flies appear.
Rolins. — Their food consists of beetles, ants, flies, grasshoppers, Ac.
They are all useful species.
Fly-catchers, Fly-eaters, &c. — All these birds are useful, some highly so,
especially the Wagtail and the Eestkss Fly-catcher, and the Whito-
fshouldered Fantail — all common birds. The Willy Wagtail, or Shepherd's
Companion, may frequently be seen perched on the backs of sheep, cattle,
and horses, from whence it makes frequent rapid sorties around the legs
of the animals, securing the biting stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans), bush
flies, and probably March flies and blow-flies.
Cuchoo Shrikes and Caterpillar-eaters. — The Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike,
sometimes called the Rainbird or Blue Jay, feeds on locusts or grasshoppers,,
stinging caterpillars, cockchafers, &c. T'he other species of Cuckoo Shrikes
and the Caterpillar-eaters are also highly useful.
Other Perching Birds. — The Ground Thrushes, Babblers, Grass-birds,.
Warblers, Tits, Wrens, and Wood Swallows are all without exception useful
birds, destroying large numbers of insects, some of which are injurious.
The almost complete absence of the smaller native birds in the neighbour-
hood of large cities probably accounts for the sick appearance often pre-
sented by eucalypts in such situations. These trees near the crowded
habitations of man are not searched daily by our smaller native birds for
the various insects feeding upon them, and in consequence these insects
increase in number and the tree suffers in health.
The following species may be singled out from amongst this large number
of birds as of special value: —
Ground Thrushes. — These ground hunting birds sometimes feed on
locusts or grasshoppers, moth caterpillars, &c. Occasionally wheat grains
are eaten. They probably serve a very useful purpose in scavenging tho
ground for insects.
Scruh Wren. — This bird hunts on the ground for insects, much like the
Ground Thrushes.
Coachwhip Bird. — Maggots and flies have been found in the stomach
contents, as well as plant bugs. It probably cats many injurious insectB
on the ground.
Bahhlers or Twelve Apostles. — These insectivorous birds occasionally
feed on locusts, plant bugs, &c.
White-fronted and Tri-coloured Chats. — These arc evidently very useful
birds, as shown by their feeding on the larva) of cabbage moths, locusts,
&c., and even blow-flies. They frequent open country.
Tits. — The little Acanthizas are usually found on the eucalypts. They
probably play a useful part in keeping these clean from insect pests, but
otherwise are not of much importance, except the Chestnut-rumped, Yellow-
m SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15. ^
rumped, and Buff-rumped Tits, which have been found to feed occasionally
on psyllids, thrips, aphids, cutworms, &c., as well as occasionally on nettle
seeds.
Wrens (Blue Wren, &c.). — The Common Blue Wren sometimes feeds on
cutworm larvae, flies, pl&nt bugs, &c. All these wrens are insectivorous.
In gardens the Blue Wrens feed upon aphis, small moths, flies, &c., and
hunt every bush.
W ood-8w allows. — These are essentially insectivorous— wasps and bees are
frequently eaten by them, blow-flies occasionally, and sometimes cutworms.
The Wood-swallows are often found in mobs of a thousand or more feeding
upon the swarms of young " hoppers " (locusts) just as they commence
crawling about. They have been seen to clean out large swarms.
Native Thrushes. — These are in general very useful birds, and in par-
ticular feed occasionally on caterpillars and grasshoppers.
Thichheads. — The Thickheads are essentially insectivorous. As they
feed occasionally on grasshoppers, moth caterpillars, plant bugs, and frog-
hoppers, they help to keep down such pests.
Yellow Bohin. — A useful destroyer of caterpillars, small moths, &c., on
foliage.
Tree-runners and Tree-creepers. — These birds confine their attention to
/searching the trunks of trees for insects, and apparently play a useful
part in keeping our timber trees free from pests.
Pardalotes or Diamond Birds. — These sometimes feed on thrips, aphids,
and scales. They spend most of their time in gum trees. It is probable
they are of more use in protecting these than in protecting fruit trees.
Honey-eaters. — The large group of honey-eaters, conspicuous denizens
♦of the Australian bush, are essentially insectivorous, though often feeding
chiefly on the honey secretions of flowers, and in a few instances feeding
on fruits and seeds, as in the case of the Yellow-eared Honey-eater,
Yellow-faced Honey-eater, and Singing Honey-eater. In the majority of
instances they are not of specific economic importance, save in a general
sense of keeping down the multiplication of insects of many kinds. Some
of the larger honey-eaters, however, especially the Minah, are of a decided
value. At the Blow-Fly Experiment Station at Uralla, the Noisy Minah
was found to catch blow-flies around the camp as well as to eat maggots
in carcases. In the fruit-growing districts, however, it will feed on grapes
and soft fruits. Minahs have also been found to feed upon cutworms,
plant bugs, &c.
Ground Larlc. — Ground Larks sometimes feed on wireworms and cut-
worms, as well as on grass and wheat seeds. They are obviously useful.
Grey Jumper or Happy Family. — These birds chiefly feed on grass and
wheat seeds, but also destroy a large number of ground insects.
White-winged Chough. — Fifteen of these birds have been examined;
grasshoppers were found in two, and insect remains in all but one. They
also feed on various weed and grass seeds, and sometimes on wheat grains.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 11
They probably play a useful part in clearing the ground of insects, but
are gravely suspected of feeding on the fruits of prickly-pear, thereby
distributing the seeds further afield.
Reptiles and Frogs.
An examination of the stomach contents of three reptiles and a frog
indicate that many of these are insectivorous, and play a useful part in
controlling insect pests. It is hoped to examine more of these as oppor-
tunity occurs. Lizards or frogs should not be destroyed just for the mere
lust of killing, unless conclusive evidence is forthcoming that they are
really doing harm.
The Food of Birds from the Botanical Aspect— Seeds.*
The birds may b3 divided into four groups, according to the class of seeds
eaten. Such a grouping is, of course, tentative, for it is apparent that in
many cases the seeds eaten are depeudeut to a givater or less extent on the
seeding plants present. For example, it is noticed that in some cases the
seed of Geijera is the only seed found, while in other cases, other seeds of
plants hke those of salt bushes and even weeds are eaten in addition. It
may have been that Geijera was the only plant growing in that locality
containing seed in abundance, or perhaps the other plants present were not
in their seeding stages. The same remarks may apply to legumes, other
native shrubs and weed seeds.
It is fairly apparent that " grass-seed eaters "also eat the seeds oi cereals
where the latter are available, and this may be important Jrom an economic
point of view. For this reason I have included cereals among grasses.
A general broad classificatioii may be made as follows : —
Geijera Seed Eaters.— Bmsh Turlxy, Short-billed Tree Tit, Jardine'fi
Caterpillar Eater, Scrub Robin, Bi^tcher Bird, Rufous-crested
Thickhead, Gilbert's Thickhead, Yellow-breasted Robin, Striped
Honey-eater, Singing Honey-eater, Yellow-throated Friar Bird,
Oriole, Spotted Bower Bird, Partridge Bronze-wing Pigeon, Brush
AVattle Bird.
Native Legume and other Native Shrub Seed Eaters. — Bronze wing Pigeon,
Brush Bronzewing Pigeon, Gong-gong Cockatoo, Pennant's
Parrakeet, Starling.
Grass Seed Eaters. — Crow, Spotted Scrub Wren, Magpie Lark, Little
Field Wren, Ground Thrush, Rosella, Red-backed Parrakeet,
Stubble-Quail, Peaceful Dove, Dove, Spotted Babbling Thrush.
Weed Seed Eaters. — King Quail, Red-backed Quail, Wonga Wonga
Pigeon, Crimson-belHed Parrakeet, Yellow-throated Scrub-wren,
Chestnut-rumped Tit, White-browed Scrub-wren, Black-backed
Wren, Silver-eye, Yellow-eared Honey-eater, Spiny-cheeked Honey-
eater, Ground Lark, Grey Jumper, White-winged Chough, Sparrow.
* E. Breakwell, B.A., B.Sc, Agrostologist, Department of Agriculture^
1-J SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Lists of Birds Feeding on Particular Foods of more or less Economic
Importance.
(These lists v.ia compiled from the results oi the individual examinations
detailed in the appendices of this Bulletin. Further examinations will
undoubtedly add materially to these lists. Notes on a few of the more
important species known to feed on pests have been added, though exam-
inations Oi their stomach contents have not been made by us.)
Species of Birds Feeding on Wheat Grains and Cultivated Grains.
Stubble Quail {Coturnix pectoralis). Occasionally.
White Cocka-' 00 {Cacatua galerita).
Rose-brcated Cor^katoo, Gajah (Cacatua roseicapilla) .
Chestnut-backed B^bblvi Tb.nish, Ground Thrash {Cinclosc7na castano-
notum).
Ro sella [PlatycerCvts .zcmi-. d
Magpie Lark [Grallina picata) (? under natural conditions).
Black-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina tihicen).
White-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina leuconota).
Bellbird {Oreoica cristaia).
White-faced Titmouse (Aphelocephala leucopsis).
Crow {Corvus coronoides, including Corone australis). Occasionally.
White -winged Chough {Corcorax melanorhamjpus) .
Sparrow (Passer domesticus).
Species of Birds Feeding on Fruits.
Painted Quail (Turnix varia).
Little Green Pigeon (Lamprotreroji superba).
Pennant's Parrakeet (Platycercus elegans).
Silver-eye (Zosterops coerulescens).
Indian Dove (Turtur ferrago).
A number of other birds also feed on fraits, such as the Rosella (Platycercus
eximius), which is a pest in apple orchards on the South Coast, at Mittagoiig
£,nd other places, Leatherheads (Tropidorhynchus cornicidatus), Minahs
(Myzantha), &c.
Species of Birds Feeding on Grass Seeds.
Brash Turkey (Catheturus lathami).
.Stubble Q^iail (Coturnix pectoralis).
K'ng Qiail (Excalfactoria australis).
Bronzewing Pigeon (Phaps chalcoptera).
Painted Q.iail (Turnix varia).
Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida [tranquilla]).
Dove (Geopelia cuneata).
Rosella (Platycercus eximius).
Pennant's Parrakeet (Platycercus elegans).
Red-backed Parrakeet (Psephotus hcematonotus),
Pdle-headed Parrakeet (Platycercus pallidiceps).
Spotted Babbling Thrush, Ground Thrash (Cinclosoma punctatum).
Chestnut-backed Babbling Thrush, Ground Thrush (Cincloscma castanonc(um).
Rock Warbler (Origma rubricata).
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. . la
Little Field Wren {Chthonicola sac/ittata).
White-browod Scrub Wren {Sericorms frontalis).
Spotted Scrub Wren {Stricornis macidata).
Magpie Lark {Grallina picato).
Ground Lark {Anthus austraUs).
Native Singing Lark {Mirafra horsfieldi).
Diamond Sparrow {Stagonopleura guttata).
Red-browed Finch {^gintha temj)oralis).
Grey-jumper, Happy Family {Struthidea cinerca).
White-winged Chough {Corcorax melanorhamf^is) .
Sparrow {Passer doniesticus) .
Species op Birds Feeding OxV Weeds.
S;;ubblc Quail (Coturnix pectoralis).
King Quail {Excalf actor ia australis).
Red-backed Quail [Turnix maculosa).
Peaceful Dove {Geopelia placida [tranquilla]).
Dovo [Geopelia cuneata).
Crested Pigeon {Ocyphaps lophotes).
Ro sella {Platycercus eximius).
Crimson -bellied Parrakeet [Psephotus hoenmtorrhotts).
Little Field Wren (Chthonicola sagittata). •
Chestnut-rnmped Tit {Acayithiza uropygialis).
Yellow -throated Scrub Wren [Sericornis barhara).
White -browed Scrub Wren {Sericornis frontalis).
White-faced Titmouse {Aphelocepliala leucopsis),
Silver-eye {Zosterops coerulescens).
Yellow-eared Honey-eater {Ptilotis chrusotis).
Yellow-faced Honey-eater {Ptilotis chrysops).
Ground Lark {Anthus australis).
Native Singing Lark {Mirafra horsfieldi).
Oriole {Oriolus Sagittarius).
€row {Corvus coronoides, including Corone australis). Occasionally.
Grey Jumper, Happy Family {Struthidea cinerea).
White-winged Chough {Corcorax melanorhampus).
^Sparrow {Passer do^nesticus).
Species of Birds Feeding on Mice.
Black-shouldered Kite (^/«>^2W5ax27Zan5).
Grasshopper Hawk {Cerchneis cenchroides) .
€row {Corvus coronoides, including Car one australis).
The Boobook Owl, the Sported Owl, the Delicate (White) Owl, ard the
Mopoke {Podargus), though not included in this respect in our examinations,
^.re well known to feed, often extensively, on mice.
Species of Birds Feeding on Small Birds, e.g., Sparrows.
Goshawk {Astur fasciatus).
Pigeon Hawk {Accipiter torquatus).
Whistling Eagle {Haliastur sphenurus).
Erown Hawk {Hieracidea berigora).
U ' SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Species of Birds Feeding on Bees.
Bee-eater (Merops ornatus).
Wood-swallow (Artamus tenebrosus).
Fuscous Honey-eater {Ptilotis fusca).
Yellow-throated Minah {Myzantha flavigula).
Apart from the examinations made in these investigations, at least two
species of Wood Swallows (Artamus) arc great enemies to the bee-keeper.
Species of Birds Feeding on Ants.
Painted Quail [Turnix varia).
Black-breasted Plover [Zonifer tricolor).
Lesser Golden Plover (Charadrius dominicus).
Black-fronted Dottrell {Mgialitis melanofs).
Sharp-tailed Stint {Heteropygia aurita [Pisohia acuminata]).
Bee-eater {Merops ornatus).
Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx hasalis).
Black and White Swallow {Cheramceca leucosternon).
Fairy Martin {Chelidon ariel).
Brown Fly-catcher, Jacky Winter {Microeca fascinans).
Scarlet-breasted Eobin (Petrwca leggei).
Flame-breasted Robin (Petroeca phcenicea).
Rose-breasted Robin {Petroeca rosea).
Red-capped Robin {Petroeca goodenovii).
Hooded Robin {Petroeca hicolor).
Short-billed Tree Tit {Smicrornis brevirostris).
Brown ¥ly-esiter {Pseudogery gone fusca).
White-shafted Fantail {Rhipidura albiscapa).
Wagtail {Rhipidura tricolor).
Spotted Babbling Thrush, Ground Thrush {Cinclosoma punctatiim) .
Chestnut-backed Babbling Thrush, Ground Thmsh {Cinclosoma caslavio-
notum).
Scrub Robin {Drymacedus brunneopygius).
"Ba-hhleT {Pomatostomus frivolus). *
Ooa-ch-whii^ Bird {Psophodescrepitaiis).
White-hiowed Bsbhhlei {Pomatostomus superciliosus) .
Lunulated Mountain Thrush {Oreocichla lunulata).
Rufous-backed Singing Lark {Cinclorhamphus rufescens).
White-fronted Chat (Ephthianura albifrons).
Barley Bird {Cisticola exilis).
Little Tit {AcantJiiza nana).
Red-rumped Tit {Acanthiza pyrrhopygia) .
Striated Tit {Acanthiza lineata).
^Vi^-rvim.-^ed Tit {Acanthiza reguloides).
Blue Wren {Malurus cyaneus).
Blue Wren {Malarus cyanochlamys).
Wood-swallow {Artamus tenebrosus) .
White-eyebrowed Wood Swallow {Artamus superciliosus).
Grey ^h.Tik.e-Thm.sh {Collyriocichla harmonica).
Magpie Lark {Grallina picata).
Black-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina tibicen).
White-backed Magpie ((T?/m?2ory^iV?a ?ei^conofa). .' .
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 16
Butcher Bird (Cracticus destructor), '
Bell-Bird {Oreoica cristata).
{Kemyiella kempi.)
White-throated Thickhead {Pachycephala pectoralis).
Rufous-breasted Thickhead {PachycepJiala rufiventris).
Yellow-breasted Shrike-Robin {Eopsaltria australis).
Black-capped Tree-runner {Neositta pileata).
White -throated Tree-creeper {Climacteris picumna [leucophcea]).
Brown Tree-creeper (Climacteris scandens).
Striated Pardalote or Diamond Bird [Pardalotus oniatus).
Short-billed Honey-eater (MeUthreptus hrevirostris).
Spine-billed Honey-eater [Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) .
White-fronted Honey-eater (Glycyphila albifrons).
Fuscous Honey-eater (Ptilotis jusca).
Yellow-eared Honey-eater [Ptilotis chrusotis).
Singing Honey-eater {Ptilotis sonora).
White -eared Honey-eater [Ptilotis leucotis).
Yellow-tufted Honey-eater [Ptilotis melanops \auricomis'\).
Wattle-cheeked Honey-eater [Ptilotis cratitia). .
White-plumed Honey-eater [Ptilotis penicillata):
New Holland Honey-cater [Meliornis novce-hollandice).
Noisy Minah [Myzantha garrida).
Yellow-throated Minah [Myzantha flavigula).
Red-wattle Bird, Gillbird [Anthochcera caruncidata).]
Leatherhead [Tropidorhynchus corniculatus) .
Ground Lark [Anthus australis).
Oriole [Oriolus Sagittarius).
€row [Corvus coronoides, including Corone australis).
Grey Bell Magpie [Strcpera anaphoiensis).
White-winged Chough [Corcorax melanorharnpus) .
Sparrow [Passer domesticus).
Starling [Sturnus vulgaris).
Species of Birds Feeding on White Ants.
Plame -breasted Robin [Petrceca pkoenicea).
Red-rumped Tit [Acanthiza pyrrhopygia).
New Holland Honey-eater [Meliornis nova-hollandicB).
Orow [Corvus coronoides, including Corone australis).
Spa,Tmw [Passer domesticus).
Starling [Sturnus vulgaris).
Species of Birds Feeding on Saw-flies.
Sharp-tailed Stint [Heteropygia aurita-Pisohia acuminata).
Fan -tailed Cuckoo [Cacomantis flabelliformis) .
Bronze Cuckoo [Glialcococcyx russata).
White -throated Thickhead [PachycepJiala pectoralis).
Species of Birds Feeding on Cicadas.
Black-cheeked Falcon [Falco melanogenys) .
Leaden Fly-catcher [Myiagra ruhecula).
Dollar Bird [Eurystomus pacificus).
1« SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
- ■ — — ' — ■ — -— 1*
Yellow-breastcd Shrike Kobin {Eopsaltria australis).
White-throated Tree-creeper [Climacteris picumna [leucophoea]),
Sjarling {Sturnus vulgaris).
It is due very largely to the Sparrov; about Sydney that several species^
of Cicadas arc almost exdnct.
Species of Birds Feeding on Locusts or GRASsiiorp^RS..
Painted Quail (Turnix varia).
Pectoral Rail {Hypotcenidia philippinensis).
Brown Hawk (Hieracidea herigora).
Grasshopper Hawk {CercJmeis cenchrcides).
Boo book Owl {Ninox hoobook).
Rufcsccnt Powerful Owl [Ninox rufa).
Marbled Frogmouth (Podargus marmoratus).
Lauga'ng Jackass {Dacelo gigas).
Sacred K ngiisher {Halcyon sanctus).
Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx hasalis).
Red-capped Robin (Petrceca goodenovii).
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike or Blue Jay {Coracina rohusia).
White-shouldered Catcrpillar-catcr {Lalage tricolor).
S;)ottcd Babbling Thrush or Ground Thrush {Cincloscma punctaiwin) . .
Babbler [Pomatostomus frivolus).
Rulous-backcd Sing'ng Lark {Cinclorhaniphus rufesccns).
Ti'icoloured Chat {Ephthianura tricolor).
BufE-rumped Tit {Acanthiza reguloides).
Groy Shrike-thrush {Collyriocichla harmonica).
Magpie Lark (Grallina picata).
Black-backed Magpie {Gyjnnorhina tibicen).
White-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina leuconota).
Black-throated Butcher-bird {Craticus nigrigularis).
Butcher-bird {Craticus destructor).
Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala rufiventris).
White-headed Tree-runner (Neosiita leucoccpJiala).
Singing Honey-eater {Ptilotis sonora).
Blue-faced Honey-eater {Entomyza cyanotis).
Drongo {Chibia bracteata).
Crow {Corvus coronoides, including Corone australis).
White-winged Chough {Corcorax melanorhampus).
Sparrow {Passer domesticus).
Starhng {Sturnus vulgaris).
The common Straw-necked Ibis and Wood Swallows {Artamus), though
not included in our examinations in this respect, play a most important
part in controlling plagues of locusts.
A list has not been made of the very large number of birds feeding on beetles
or their larvae, with the two following exceptions, viz., wireworms and lady-
birds. Such a list would comprise nearly all our insectivorous birds.
Mfeny beetles cause considerable economic loss, as, for instance, in the cases
of timber-borers and pumpkin beetles.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. IT
Species of Birds Feeding ox Wireworms.
Large-billed Ground Thrush {Oreocichla nmcrorhyncha).
White-fronted Chat {Ephthianura alhifrons).
Ground Lark {Anthus australis).
Crow, Raven {Corinis coronoides, including Corone australis),
vStarling (Sturnus vulgaris).
Reptiles.
Skink (Lygosomci (Leiolepisma) entrecasteauxii).
Species of Birds Feeding on Ladybirds.
Ycllow-earod Honcy-eatcr {Ptiloiis chrusotis).
Species of Birds Feeding on Army Worms or Cutworms or other
Moth Caterpillars, or Adult Moths, &c.
Stubble Quail {Ccturnix pecioralis). Army wormp.
Pectoral Rail [Hypotcenida philippinensis). Cutworms and other larvse.
Spurvr'Jng Plover {Lohivanellus lohatus). Cutworms and other larvse.
Lesser Golden Plover {Charadrius dominicus). Moth caterpillars.
Black-fronted Dottrell {jEgialitis melanops). Moth caterpillars.
Shai-p-tailed S:int (Heteropygia aurita). Moth larvse.
Kufesccnt Powerful Owl {Ninox rufa).
Dollar Bird {Eurystoinus pacificus). Army worm moth.
Pallid Cuckoo {Cuculus inoriuUus). Cutworm larvse, vinc-mo;h larvse.
Fan-tailed Cuckoo {Cacomantis flabellifcrmis). Moth larvse.
Square-tailed Cuckoo {Cacomantis variolo&us). Stinging caterpillars.
Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx basalis). Moth larvse.
Bronze Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx plagosus). Larvae of moth and stmging cater-
pillars.
Brown Fly -catcher, or Jacky Winter {Microeca fascinaiis). Caterpillars.
S3arlet-breasted Robin {Petroeca leggei). Moth larvse.
Flame-breasted Robin {Petroeca phocnicea).
Red-capped Robin {Petroeca goodenovii).
Restless Fly-catcher {Sisura inquieta).
Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Blue Jay or Rain Bird {Ccracina rclntia).
Stinging caterpillars, bag moth larvse, hawkmoth larvse, &c.
Little Cuckoo-Shrike {Coracina mentalis). Moth larvse.
White-shouldered Caterpillar-cater {Lalage tricolor). Cutworm larvse.
Spotted Babbhng Thrush, or Ground Thrush {Cinclosoma punctatum)^
Stinging caterpillars.
Babbler {Pomatostomus frivolus). Moth larvse.
Rufous-backed Sing"ng Lark {CinclcrJiamphus rujesccns).
Lunulated Mountain Thmsh {Oreocichla lunuhta).
White-fronted Chat {Ephthianura albijrcns). Larvse of cabbage moths.
Little Tit {Acanthiza nana).
Plain -co loured Tit {Acanthiza inornata).
Brown Tit {Acanthiza pusilla).
Brown -nimped Tit {Acanthiza dienienensis). Caterpillar.
Yellow-rumped Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhca). Cutworms, bag moth larvae;,
cabbage moth larvse (?).
Buff-rumped Tit {Acanthiza reguloides). Cutworms and other larvse.
Red-throat {Sericornis brunnea). Larvse.
18 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
White-browed Scrub Wren {Sericornis frontalis). Moth larvae.
Spotted Scrub Wren {Sericornis maculata). Cutworms.
Blue Wren {Malurus cyanochlamys). Cutworms.
Wood-swallow {Artamus tenehrosus). Cutworms.
White-eyebrowed Wood-swallow {Artamus superciliosus), Moth larvae.
Grey Shrike Thrash {Collyriocichla harmonica). Stinging caterpillars, hawk-
moth caterpillars, &c.
Magpie Lark (Grallina picata). Moth larvae.
Black-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina tihicen). Hawk-moth larvae, cutworms.
Butcher Bird {Cracticus destructor).
Yellow-bellied Shrike Tit {Falcunculus jrontatus).
Eufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala rufiventris). Moth caterpillars.
Yellow-breasted Shrike Eobin {Eopsaltria australis). Moth caterpillars.
Orange-winged Tree-runner {Neosiita chrysoptera).
White-throated Tree-creeper {Climacteris picumna [leucophcea]).
Brown Tree-creeper {Climacteris scandens).
Silver-eye {Zosterops coerulescens). Cabbage moth larvae.
Mistletoe Bird {Dicceum hirundinaceum) .
^lack-headed Pardalote {Pardalotus melanocephalus). Moth caterpillars.
Short-billed Honey-eater {Melithreptus hrevirostris). Moth larvae.
Striped Honey -eater {Plectorhamphus lanceolatus) .
Warty-faced Honey-eater {Meliphaga phrygia).
Singing Honey-eater {Ptilotis sonora).
Yellow-throated Honey-eater {Ptilotis flavicollis).
White-cheeked Honey-eater {Meliornis sericea).
Noisy Minah {Myzantha garrida). Moth larvae.
Yellovr-thTOSkted Min&h. {Myzanthaflavigula). Cutworms.
Red-wattle Bird, G"llbird {Anthochcera carunculata). Stinging caterpillars.
Blue-faced Honey-cater {Entomyza cyanotis). Moth larvae.
Leatherhead {Tropidorliynchus corniculatus) .
Ground Lark {Anthus australis). Cutworms and other larvae.
Oriole {Oriolus Sagittarius). Cutworms and other larvae.
'Crow {Corvus coronoides, including Corone australis). Cutworms, &c.
White-winged Chough {Corcorax melanorhampus) . Cutworms, &c.
Sparrow {Passer domesticus). Cabbage moth larvae, cutworms.
Starling {Sturnus vulgaris). Cutwoims, &c.
Species of Birds Feeding on Flies.
Painted Quail {Turnix varia).
Black-fronted Dottrell {Mgialitis inelanops).
^oseWa, {Platycercus eximius). Blow-fly larvae (?).
Bee -eater {M crops ornatus).
House Swallow {Hirundo neoxena). House-flies.
Fairy Martin {Ghelidon arid).
Brown Fly-catcher, Jacky Winter {Micrceca fascinans). Blow-flies, gnats, &c.
Flame-breasted Robin {Petrceca phcenicea).
White-shafted Fantail {Rhipidura alhiscapa).
Red-capped Robin {Petrceca goodenovii). Small flies.
Wagtail {Rhipidura tricolor).
Leaden Fly-catcher {Myiagra ruhecula). Syrphid and Muscid flies.
Brown Fly-eater {Pseudogerygone fusca). Sm.all flies.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIKDS. 19
Restless Fly-catcher {Sisura inquieta). Blow-flies.
Chestnut-backed Babbhng Thrush, Ground Thrush {Cinclosomn casiano-
notum).
Coachwhip bird {Psophodes crepitans). Fly maggots.
Tricoloured Chat {Ephthianura tricolor). Blow-flies.
Rock Warbler {Origma ruhricata). Fly larvae.
Little Tit {Acanthiza nana). Gnats and flies.
Brown Tit {Acanthiza pusilla).
Striated Tit {Acanthiza lineata). FUes and fl} larvse'.
Ohestnut-rumped Tit {Acanthiza uropygialis).
Yellow-rumped Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa).
Buff-rumped Tit {Acanthiza reguloides).
Blue Wren {Malurus cyanochlamys).
Grey Shrike-Thrush {Collyriocichla harmonica). Pupre of flle.^'.
Wood-swallow {Artamus tenebrosvs). Blow-flies.
Mskgi^ie Lark {Grallina picata). Small flies.
Butcher Bird {Cracticus destructor).
Black-backed Magpie {Gymnorhina tibicen). Fly larvae.
Yellow-belHed Shrike Tit {Falcunculus frontatus).
White-faced Titmouse {Aphelocephala leucopsis). Drosophihd flies.
Silver-eye {Zosterops ccerulescens). Small flies.
Mistletoe Bird {Dicceum hirundinaceum). Syrphid flies.
Striated Pardalote {Pardalotus ornatus).
Black-headed Pardalote {Pardalotus fnelafiocephalus). Fly larvae.
Lunulated Honey-eater {Melithreptus atricapillus). Small flies.
Short-billed Honey-eater {Melithreptus hrevirostris).
Black-chinned Honey-eater {Melithreptus gularis).
Blood Bird {Myzomela sanguineolenta).
Spine-billed Honey-eater {Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris). House or bush flies.
Tawny-coloured Honey-eater {Glycyphila melanops). Small flies.
Warty-faced Honey-eater {Meliphaga phrygia). Fungous gnats, &c.
Brown Honey-eater {Stigmatops ocularis).
Fuscous Honey-eater {Ptilotis fusca).
Yellow-faced Honey-eater {Ptilotis chrysops). Mosquitoes and flies.
Yellow-tufted Honey-eater {Ptilotis melanops [auricomis]) .
Crescent Honey-eater {Meliornis pyrrhoptera).
New Holland Honey-eater {Meliornis novce-hollandicB). Small flies and gnatF!,
White-cheeked Honey -eater {Meliornis sericea).
Noisy Minah {MyzantJia garrula). Blow-flies.
Yellow-throated Minah {Myzantha flavigula). Muscid flies.
Brush-wattle Bird {Anellohia chrysoptera Imellivora]).
Blue-faced Honey-eater {Entomyza cyanotis).
Leatherhead {Tropidorhynchus cornicidatus^.
Crow {Corvus coronoides, including Corone australis). Blow-fly maggot*
occasionally.
Sparrow {Passer domesticus). Blow-flies.
^t2kT\\ng {Sturnus vulgaris) . Drone fly, &c.
Reptiles.
Monitor, *' Goanna "' (ForoMw* ranws). Pupae of flies.
20 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Species op Birds Feeding on Plant Bugs.
Sjubble Quail {Coturnix pectoralis). Eutherglcn bug.
Dollar Bird {Eunjstomus pacificus).
Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flahelliformis).
Fairy Mar:;in {Chelido7i ariel).
Brown Fly -eater {Pseudogerygone fusca).
White -shafted Fantail {Rhipidura albiscapa).
Coachwhip Bird {Psophodes crepitans).
Wagtail {Rhipidura tricolor [motacilloides]).
White-browod Babbler {Pomastostomus superciliosus).
Kufous-backed Singing Lark {Cinclorhamphus rufescens).
Lunulated Mountain Thrush {OreocicJda lunulata).
Little Tit {Acanthiza nana).
Plain -coloured Tit {Acanthiza inornata).
Seriated Tit {Acanthiza lineata).
Yellow-ramped Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa).
Bine Wren {Malurus cyanochlamys).
Wood-swallow {Artamus tenehrosus).
Butcher Bird {Cracticus destructor).
Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala rufiventris).
Silver-eye {Zosterops coerulescens).
Spotted Pardalote {Pardalotus punctatus).
iShort-billed Honey-eater {Melithreptus hrevirosiris).
Warty-faced Honey-eater {Meliphaga phrygia).
White-plumed Honey-eater {Ptilotis penicillaia).
White-cheeked Honey-eater {Meliornis sericea).
Noisy Minah {Myzantha garrida).
Ground Lark {Anthus australis).
Crow {Corvus coronoides, including Corone australis). Occasionally.
Species of Birds Feeding on Froghoppers or Leafhoppees.
Red-nimped Ground Wren {Hylacola cauta).
Yellow-breasted Shrike Robin {Eopsaltria australis).
Rufous-breasted Thickhead {Pachycephala rufiventris).
White-headed Tree-runner {Neositta leucocephala).
Black-capped Tree-runner {Neositta pUeata).
Silver-eye {Zosterops coerulescens).
Short-billed Honey-eater {Melithreptus hrevirostris).
White-eared Honey-eater {Ptilotis leucotis).
Species of Birds Feeding on Thrips.
Chestnut-rumped Tit {Acanthiza uropygialis).
Silver-eye {Zosterops coerulescens).
Spotted Pardalote {Pardalotus punctatus).
Lunulated Honey-eater {Melithrepttis atricapillus).
Species of Birds Feeding on Aphides.
Brown Fly-eater {Pseudogerygone fusca).
Striated Tit {Acanthiza lineata).
Yellow-rump^d Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa).
*iilvcr-eye {Zosterops coerulescens).
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 21:
Mistletoe Bird (Dicceum hirundinaceum) .
Spotted Pardalote [Pardalotus punctatus) (?).
Lunulated Honey-eater {Melithreptus atricapillus).
Blood Bird (Myzomela smiguineolenta) .
Yellow-tufted Honey-eater {Ptilotis melanops [auricomis]),
Sparrow {Passer domesticus) .
The Blue Wren {Malunis cyanodamys) is known to feed on apliides in
gardens.
Species of Birds Feeding on Scales.
Little Tit {Acanthiza nana).
Buff -ramped Tit {Acanthiza reguloides).
Black-backed Magpie {Gi/7nnorhina tibicen) (?).
Silver-eye {Zosterops ccerulescens).
Stiiated Pardalote {Pardalotus ornatus).
Spotted Pardalote {Pardalotus punctatus).
Black-headed Pardalote {Pardalotus melanocepJialus) (?),
Blue-faced Honey-eater {Entomyza cyanotis).
Ground Lark {Anthus australis) (?).
Sjarling {Sturnus vulgaris) (?).
Species of Birds Feeding on Psyllids.
Little Tit {Acanthiza nana).
Brown Tit {Acanthiza pusilla).
Striated Tit {Acanthiza lineata).
Chestnut-ramped Tit {Acanthiza uropygialis).
Yellow-rumped Tit {Acanthiza chrysorrhoa).
Buff -ramped Tit {Acanthiza reguloides).
S:lver-eye {Zosterops ccerulescens).
Striated Pardalote {Pardalotus ornatus).
Spotted Pardalote {Pardalotus punctatus).
Short-billed Honey-eater {Melithreptus brevirostris).
Red-wattie Bird, Gillbird {Anthochcera carunciilata).
Starling {Sturnus vulgaris).
»•
22 SCIENCE BULI-ETIN, No. 15.
APPENDICES.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO APPENDICES I AND II.
J. B. CLELAND, M.B., Principal Microbiologist, Department of Public Health.
The following list comprises complete details of an examination of tho
contents of stomachs and crops of Australian birds conducted over a
series of years for the purpose of ascertaining their feeding habits and
their value or otherwise to *the community. After the scientific name, and
the popular name, the locality, accompanied by the date, is given, each bird
examined being treated individually. The first detail given is the rough
field classification of the contents by which they are drafted, according to
their nature, to the botanist, the entomologist, &c., for further identifica-
tion. The value of inserting this provisional classification chiefly lies in the
misinterpretations that may be made by the ornithologist in the field when
examining the contents of the stomachs of the birds he has shot, and shows
how this must often be qualified by a later examination made by a
specialist. Unless such later examinations ^re made by those specially
skilled in the subject dealt with, erroneous conclusions may sometimes be
drawn from observations made in the field.
As regards the identification of the birds, in most cases I am responsible
for these, but when in doubt have submitted specimens for further identifica-
tion to the late Mr. A. J. North, of the Australian Museum, to Mr. Gregory
M. Mathews, or to Mr. Lancelot Harrison. During the later examinations Dr.
Ferguson has been associated with me in identifying the birds, and drafting
their stomach contents, and is also responsible for certain of the insect
identifications. The majority of the entomological identifications have
been made by Mr. W. W. Froggatt, Government Entomologist, assisted by
Mr. W. B. Gurney, Assistant Entomologist. The examination of seeds and
vegetable matter has been conducted by Mr. J. H. Maiden, Government
Botanist, with the assistance of Mr. Ewen McKinnon, Mr. W. M. Came,
Mr. A. A. Hamilton, and Mr. E. Breakwell. We are also indebted to other
specialists, more particularly Mr. Charles Hedley, Assistant Curator of the
Australian Museum, and Mr. A. R. McCulloch, of the Australian Museum,
for special identifications.
Whilst the majority of the birds have been collected by myself, chiefly
in New South Wales, but also in South Australia, Western Australia,
Tasmania, and its dependent islands, we are indebted for a very consider-
able number to Dr. T. L. Bancroft, of Eidsvold, Queensland, and to Dr.
MacGillivray, of Broken Hill, both of whom have supplied specimens of
Queensland birds. Mr. T. McCarthy, assistant to Entomologist, Depart-
ment of Agriculture, has also collected and examined birds for us. In
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.
addition, we are indebted to the following pastoralists of New South
Wales, who, in response to an appeal by the Blow-fly Investigation Com-
mittee and the Pastoralists' Association, have kindly forwarded us a num-
ber of highly important specimens of birds : — Mr. W. E.. Wood, *' Yerinan,"
Coonabarabran ; Mr. D. Mclntyre, " Goolhi," Gunnedah; Mr. Samuel Berry,
*^ Warrabah," Upper Manilla; Mr. I. P. Kelman, '' Tantaranna," Moree;
Mr. W. G. Lachszyrma, Charltq^ Station, Tarcoon; Mr. G. C. Wood,
" Moorawari," Tarcoon ; Mr. Tliomas Perkins, Bogamildi Station, Gil
Gil, Moree; Mr. Craig, Cooma; Mr. R Leslie, " Gingie," Walgett; Mr.
J. M. Atkinson, of the Pastoralists' Sheep Fly Committee, kindly forwarded
a number of specimens from the Nyngan District; Mr. G. M. McKeown, of
the Wagga Experiment Earm, obtained for us a most valuable series of
starlings, for which we are much indebted.
" M," followed by a numeral, indicates the number of the bird in
Mathews' " Hand-list of the Birds of Australasia," published as a supple-
ment to The Emu, Vol. 7, 1907-8. This hand-list has been adhered to in
preference to Mr. Mathews' later list, inasmuch as a considerable number
of the results had already been tabulated in this form, and his lists at
present available have not yet reached finality of nomenclature.
'^ H,'' followed by a numeral, indicates the number of the bird in Robert
Hall's " A Key to the Birds of Australia and Tasmania," 1st edition.
The initials " E.W.F." indicate that the following memorandum is the
result of the examination made by Dr. E. W. Eerguson.
The initials " W.W.F." indicate that the following memorandum is the
result of the examination of the insect remains by Mr. Eroggatt, and
*'W.B.G." those by Mr. Gurney; similarly the initials " J.H.M.," "E.M.,"
" W.M.C." indicate the botanical results of an examination by Mr. Maiden,
Mr. Mackinnon, or Mr. Carne.
The date when shot is preceded by the locality. When more than one
specimen of a species has been examined, these are denoted by (a), (b),
&c.
All the results contained in this table are not here published for the
first time. In 1910, in The Emu, Vol. 9, April, page 219, and in the
Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales for May, 1910, results were
published of examinations of the stomach contents of fifty-seven birds, and
these are included here. In the second report of the Government Bureau
of Microbiology for the years 1910 and 1911, page 192, the results of the
examinations of 243 more birds as well as of the fifty-seven mentioned
above are given. This was supplemented by the results of another 100 hirds
published in the third report of the Government Bureau of Microbiology,
1912, page 181. It has been considered advisable to include these previous
lists in the present one, so tliat, with the list prepared by Mr. Musson,
details of the examinations of the stomach contents of 1,000 birds can be
dealt with together.
24
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(43); ink
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rnsshoTtneTS. fr02-
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beetles (2); ants (1).
nts (9); beetles (6);
cicada (1) ; small
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pider (1); ants (9);
beetles (6); wasp (1):
moths (2).
eetle and other in-
sect remains,
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(IC), includinjz cab-
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Psvlla (1); thrips (1);
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44 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
APPENDIX II.
Tabulated Examination o! the Contents of Stomachs and Crops of
the individual Australian Birds, &c., examined.
Catheturus lathami. (M. 7; H. 667.) Yellow -wattled Brush Turkey.
Queensland.
Full of seeds — round black ones, grass seeds, &c.
(E.M.) — Geijera. These may be Xanthoxylum (spp., e.g., thorny yellow
wood), but the size and shape of the embryos seem to be Oeijera.
As these seeds appear in no less than fifteen of the specimens from
the Murray to Queensland, I think they are probably Geijera spp.
Grass seed — only free internal grain; no glumes; cannot identify
species or genus.
Turnix maculosa. (M. 15; H. 569.) Eed-backed (Black-backed) Quail.
(a) Claudie Kiver, N.Q., 29th September, 1913.
Seeds — small ovate black seeds; small kidney-shaped yellow seeds; one
or two oblongate brownish seeds ; one ovate small three-sided seed.
(J.H.M.) — 8wainsona sp. ; Legume (Vicia) ; Polygonum aviculare, L.;
Rumex sp.
(b) Claudie Kiver, N.Q., 7th October, 1913.
Minute cordate seeds, dotted in rows.
(c) Claudie Eiver, N.Q., 26th October, 1913.
Seeds — small oblongate brownish seeds; smaller, flattened kidney-
shaped yellow seeds ; one small round seed ; two small black, strigose
Fragments of insects, unrecognisable.
(J.H.M.) — ^Legume (Vicia); Polygonum sp.
Geopelia humemlis. (M. 33 ; H. 546.) Barred-shoulder Dove.
Gular, 30th October, 1911.
Many hundred flat greyish-brown seeds.
Geopelia placida. (M. 34; H. 547.) Peaceful Dove.
(a) Gular, 30th October, 1911.
A number of small oval brownish seeds. Several larger flat white ones.
(J.H.M.) — Panicum sp. (Graminea). In addition there are also large
flat seeds unKnown to me.
(b) Sydney, 4th November, 1911.
Stomach contains a few small seeds. Crop contains numerous wheat
grains and a little bread (bird had been feeding with domestic
pigeons).
(c) Mannum, Murray Eiver, South Australia, 26th November, 1913.
Seeds — (1) Small, ovate, greyish brown; (2) small, ovate, yellowish;
(3) small, ovate, black; (4) small, round, rugulose, black; (5)
larger, triangular, black; (6) small, ovate, yellow.
(J.H.M.) — (1) Urtica incisa, Poir.; (4) Stellaria media^ Vill.; (5)
Polygonum aviculare, L.
(d) Mannum, South Australi-a, 26th November, 1913.
Seeds — (1) Eounded, black, nitid; (2) small, rounded, rugose, some red,
some black; (3) oval, greyish.
(J.H.M.) — (1) Phytolacca octandra, L. ; (2) Chenopodium sp.; (2a)
1 Stellaria media, Vill. ; (3) Urtica incisa^ Poir.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 45
(e) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Small, round, dark-brown seeds.
(E.M.) — Cyperacew.
Phaps chalcoptera. (M. 37; H. 550.) Bronzewing Pigeon.
(a) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 27th December, 1909.
Numerous oval brownish and oval olive-coloured seeds.
, (J.H.M.) — Cassia sp. (Leguminosce). The brownish seeds are certainly
leguminous and probably Cassia, but they do not agree exactly with,
any of the three Port Jackson Cassias. They come nearest to
Cassia laevigata, and may be from that species.
(b) Murray Flats, near Blanchetown, South Australia, May, 1911,
Seeds and a leaf.
(E.M.) — Seeds of Kochia, perhaps K. sedifolia, F.v.M., together with
pieces of the leaves.
OeopJiaps scripta. (M. 42 ; H. 555.) Partridge Bronze-winged Pigeon.
Queensland. u
Oval blackish seeds. I
(E.M.)— Gei/em. (See M. 7; H. 667.)
Ocyphaps lophotes. (M. 46; H. 560.) Crested Pigeon,
(a, b) Rowena, near CoUarenebri, 4th November, 1910.
Numerous small seeds of several kinds. ;
(J.H.M.) — I recognise none of the small seeds. Some of them legu-
minous seeds — Trifolium and one seems to be a Yicia,
Leucosarcia picata. (M. 47; H. 561.) Wonga Wonga Pigeon.
Hawkesbury River, 1st November, 1910. i
Seven small land snails. Large seeds of several kinds. ^
(C. Hedley, F.L.S.) — The snails are Nanina marmorata (Cox). The
species frequents decaying leaves, cracks in bark, &c. In; wet
weather it might ascend trees, but I should not call it of arboreal
habits. ;.^,/T f^( ,
(J.H.M.) — The seeds are: — (1) Exocarpus cupressiformis, LabiH. —
native cherry; (2) Elceocarpus cyaneus. Ait. — fruit of "blue-berry"
tree; (3) Seeds of a cyperaceous plant; (4) A large quantity ol
unknown seeds (Ruhiacece) ; (5) Two unknown seeds, flat and
curiously serrated.
Lohivanellus lobatus. (M. 147; H. 604.) Spur-winged Plover.
Upper Manilla, September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — ^portions of beetles (Coleoptera), including,
Amorphorrliinus {Amy derides) , and other weevils (Curculionidc^),
Larval skin.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms and wing covers. Eight small beetles.
Zonifer tricolor. (M. 149 ; H. 606.) Black-breasted Plover,
(a) Hallett's Cove, near Adelaide, 20th May, 1910.
A hymenopterous insect. Portions of a cricket (?). Numerous frag-
! ments of beetles and other insects. Several small leaves (? salt-
bush). Several minute yellow seeds. A minute brown seed, and a
small elongated grass-like seed. A little sand.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of common mole cricket, legs and heads, and ants.
I. Chief food, ants.
46 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(J'.II.M.) — Leaflets of a small leguminous plant, probably a Trifolium
or Medicago. The seeds were identical with, those found iu
^gialitis melanops (M. 158) (Fort Adelaide). They are not the
perfect seed, being covered with a dark testa, which peels off when
they swell in liquid. I could see the remains of the testa on several
seeds,
(b) Hallett's Cove, near Adelaide, 20th May, 1910.
Numerous fragments of beetles, &c. A grub. Several minute yellow
seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly remains of ants, wing covers of beetles, and a
small caterpillar.
(J.H.M.) — For the small yellow seeds, see Zonifer tricolor (a), and
/Egialitis melanops (M. 158).
KJharadrius dominicus. (M. 151; H. 608.) Lesser Golden Plover.
Cronulla, Sydney, 2nd March, 1910.
Kemains of winged ants. Other insects' remains. A small shell.
(W.W.F.) — Winged ants, worker ants. Slender caterpillar of moth.
Elytra of a number of different ground beetles.
JEgialiHs mficapilla. (M. 157; H. 614.) Eed-capped Dottrel.
Perth, September, 1909.
Fragments of insects; a small beetle; some other animal fragments.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly beetle remains; anal appendages of some beetle
larva; a small weevil.
^gialitis melariops. (M. 158; H. 615.) Black-fronted Dottrel,
(a) Port Adelaide, 19th May, 1910.
Fragments of beetles and skins of larvae of insects. A complete insect
larva. Four small round yellow seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Small lepidopterous larva?. Heads of ants and remains
of w^'ng covers of beetles.
I' (J.H.M.) — The small yellow seeds could not be identified. See under
Zonifer tricolor (M. 149).
i (b) Port Adelaide, 19th May, 1910.
;■: - Fragments of insects. Sand. '
(W.W.F.) — Nothing definite. Wing covers of beetles.
Ilimantopus leucccephalus. (M. 161; H. 618.) White-headed Stilt.
Tailem Bend, South Australia, 31st May, 1910.
Several small freshwater shells of two kinds. Mud with diatoms, &c.
(C. Hedley, Australian Museum) — The larger shell is Isadora water-
housii, Clessing; the smaller, Isadora aculispira. Try on.
Heteropygia aurita. (M. 181; H. 634.) Sharp-tailed Stint.
(a) Gular, 30th October, 1911.
Fragments of insects; a number of minute reddish brow^n seeds; a few
minute black ones.
(W.W.F.) — Fragments of beetles, &c., unrecognisable. i
I (b) Gular, 30th October, 1911.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Four larvae; one moth caterpillar ( ?) ; head and thorax of
a Hydrophilid beetle; small black beetle (Rhysodidce?) ; one fly
pupa (Cyclorhaphous) ; numerous portions of small beetles.
[ (c) Gular, 30th October, 1911.
; ■ Fragments of insects: one small oval yellow seed.
(J.H.M.) — Medicago sp. {Leguminosw) , probably M. sativa (lucerne).
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 47
Ihismolucca. (M. 194; H. 702.) White Ibis.
Queensland.
Portions of crustaceans.
(A. R. McCulloch, Australian Museum) — Grapsidw. f.
Herodias timoriensis. (M. 203; H. 710.) Wnite Egret.
Queensland.
Remains of a shrimp. Portions of grasshoppers.
(W.W.F.) — Black cricket (Gryllus servillei). Young shrimp,
Notophoyx novce-hollandice. (M. 204; H. 711.) White-fronted Heron.
Hawkesbury River, 6th August, 1910.
(A. R. McCulloch) — Crab; Brachyura ; Nipper Prawn, Alphceidoe ',
prawn, Penceidce — inhabitants of estuarine mud-flats.
Buforides stagnatilis. (M. 211; H. 718.) Thick-billed Bittern.
Hawkesbury River.
(A. R. McCulloch) — Fish, Gohius sp.; shrimp, Leander sp. ( ?) — inhabi-
tants of estuarine mud-flats.
Biziura lohata. (M. 236; H. 763.) Musk Duck.
Hawkesbury River.
(A. R. McCulloch) — Mud crabs, Macrophthalmus sp., inhabitants of
estuarine mud-flats.
Phalacrocorax carbo. -(M. 237; H. 724). Black Cormorant.
Hawkesbury River, 6th April, 1910.
Portions of several catfish. Fragments of dead shells.
Aslur fasciatus. (M. 258 ; H. 2i.) Goshawk.
Hallett's Cove, Adelaide, May, 1910.
Remains of small bird about size of Anthus.
Ealiastur sphejiurus. (M. 267 ; H. 5.) Whistling Eagle.
(a) Adelaide, May, 1910.
Feathers of small bird.
(b) Tarcoon, October, 1914.
Stomach almost empty, containing a small tangled mass consisting of
fibres of wool. Head of ant also present.
Hieracidm herigora. (M. 278 ; H. 16.) Striped Brown Hawk.
Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 25th November, 1912.
Full of beetle remains, &c.
(W.B.G.) — Dasygnathus (Scarabceidce), probably five or six specimens,
much broken.
Ninox hodbooh. (M. 283 ; H. 29.) Boobook Owl,
Mannum, Murray River, South Australia, 26th November, 1913.
Remains of large insects.
(E.W.F.) — 'Coleoptera — Dynastidw and Ceramhycidce {Phoracantha sp.?).
Orthoptera — Legs and mandibles of grasshopper.
Ninox rufa. (M. 292 ; H. 36.) Rufescent Powerful Owl.
Claudie River, N.Q., 13th September, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — -Insect remains: — Several large Orthoptera — phasmids and
large green grasshopper.
Geoff roy us McLennaui.
(a) Pascoe River, N.Q., 20th July, 19L3.
Crop contents — A number of fairly large, roughly conical or irregularly
shaped, brownish seeds. Gizzard contents — Yellow and black grit.
One fairly large oval seed.
48 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(b) Juvenile. Pascoe River, 22nd July, 1913.
Crop and gizzard contents — -Yellow grit; a few subtriangular seeds,
yellowish- brown in colour.
' (J.H.M.) — Rosa ruhiginosa, L.
(c) Pascoe River, 24tli July, 1913.
Crop contents— Brownish masses, probably of vegetable origin. Gizzard
contents — Black and yellow grit.
(d) Pascoe River, 4th August, 1913.
Crop contents — Ironstone pebbles. Gizzard contents — Yellow grit.
(e) Pascoe River, 4th August, 1913.
Crop contents — Ironstone pebbles. Gizzard contents — Yellow grit.
(f) Claudie River, 20th September, 1913.
Crop contents — ^Elongate pentahedral seeds and muddy debris. Stomach
contents — -Red grit. QEsophagus — A few seeds as in crop.
.(g) Claudie River, 20th September, 1913.
Crop contents — ^As in (f). Stomach contents — Reddish grit ; two
reddish seeds. (Esophagus — A few seeds in cardiac end.
Edectus macgillivrayi.
(a) Claudie River, 14th September, 1913.
Crop contents — Seeds. Moderately large, smooth, greyish, kidney-
shaped seeds ; smaller, somewhat irregularly shaped seed, reddish
or brown.
Stomach contents — Grit; one small, somewhat irregularly shaped seed,
reddish or brown.
(J.H.M.)— Legume, sp.?
<b) Claudie River, 30th September, 1913.
Stomach contents — -Masses of yellow, red, and black grit. CEsophagus—
Vegetable material? ; several fairly large seeds, somewhat flattened.
■'OlossopsiUacus porphyrocephalus. (M. 308; H. 473.) Purple-crowned Lori-
keet.
Mount Lofty Range, South Australia, May, 1910.
Several stamens of Eucalyptus cosmopJiylla and masses of pollen of this
species, which was in bloom at the time.
Oacatua galerita. (M. 320 ; H. 485.) White Cockatoo.
Nowra, 5th April, 1914.
(a, b, c) Stomach contents of three birds contained numerous seeds and
quartz pebbles, also fragments probably of vegetable origin.
Eeeds — (1) Moderately large, light reddish-brown, elliptical with short
spine at apex ; (2) Small, brownish, elongate, irregularly three-sided
seeds ; (3) Small black fragments, possibly remains of seed capsules.
(J.H.M.) — (1) Sorghum vulgare, Pers.
€acatua roseicapilla. (M. 324; H. 489.) Rose-breasted Cockatoo (Galah).
(a) Yanco, 19th December, 1914.
Stomach contents — Grit ; fibrous material, probably vegetable ; two
small seeds — (1) Small, angular, brownish ; (2) Flat, ovate, yellow.
(b) Yanco, 19th December, 1914.
Stomach contents — Grit ; fibrous vegetable tissue.
(c) Yanco, 19th December, 1914.
Stomach contents— Grit ; seeds — (1) as in (a) ; (2) one larger round seed.
(d) Yanco, 19th December, 1914.
Stomach contents— Grit; grain of wheat.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 49
(e) Belaringar, N.S.W., 14th April, 1915.
(E.WJ".) — Grit; whitish fragments, probably portions of broken seeds;
a few small dark reddish-brown seeds.
Platycercus elegans. (M. 334; H. 498.) Pennant's -Parrakeet.
(a) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River.
About eighteen large white seeds ; several small white seeds.
(J.H.M.)— Young fruits, the exocarp corroded, of Persoonia sp. (fam.
Proteacece).
(b) Wagga, July, 1914.
Dark blackish material, ? olive pulp; several small brown warly seeds;
some larger oval seeds (? grain).
(c) Wagga, July, 1914.
Chiefly blackish material, ? olive pulp.
(d) Slopes of Mount Kosciusko, 13th December, 1910.
The crop contained a large number of whitish insect-larvse.
(W.W.F.) The larvae appear to be those of some beetle. They are
legless and many seem to have been attacked by a fungus or
(e) Mt. Irvine, N.S.W., 5th June, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Crop contents — Numerous dark brown angulate seeds; also
whitish seeds. Stomach contents — Comminuted fragments of seeds.
(J.H.M.) — -The seeds sue :— Eucalyptus sp.; white seeds not identified.
Platycercus adelaidce. (M. 336 ; H. 500.) Adelaide Parrakeet.
Mount Lofty Range, South Australia, May, 1911.
Seeds not identifiable.
Platycercus flaveolus. (M. 337; H. 501.) Yellow-rumped Parrakeet.
(a) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
Elongate, narrow, brown bodies — ? seeds.
(b) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
Similar contents to (a).
(c) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
Similar contents to (a) ; small oblong seeds, bluntly pointed at one end.
Platycercus flavwentris. (M. 338; H. 502.) Yellow-bellied Parrakeet.
(a) Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 25th November, 1912. '
Crop packed with small round greyish-yellow seeds, some reddish;
also minute seeds.
(b) Flinders Island, 27th November, 1912.
Crop full of narrow elongated seeds.
(J.H.M.) — Not seeds, ? entomological.
Platycercus pallidiceps. (M. 339; H. 503.) Pale-headed Parrakeet.
Queensland.
Small, whitish and brownish seeds.
(E.M.) — Two pieces of quartz and many pieces of black mineral matter
present. The rest of the specimen consists of the grain of some
grass, but only an odd glume or two can be found and the species
cannot be identified. There are many of the free grains present.
Platycercus eximius. (M. 343 ; H. 506.) Rosella.
(a) Wagga, N.S.W., July, 1914.
Seeds — Small, yellow, and greenish, ? grass seeds.
(J.H.M.) — Capsella bursa-pastoris, Mcench.
50 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(b) Gunnedah, February, 1911.
Small white, yellow, and orange seeds; fragments of charcoal.
(J.II.M.) — Seeds not recognised.
(c) Belaringar, N.S.W., 15th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Crop contents — Numerous seeds of two kinds — (1) Small^
ovate, flattened, yellow; (2) Minute, rounded, reddish-black.
Stomach contents — Broken up seeds, similar to those in crop.
(W.M.C.) — 'The seeds are — (1) Not identified; (2) Amaranthus sp.
(d) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Several species of grass seeds; partly digested vegetable
matter.
Barnardius barnardi. (M. 349; H. 513.) Barnard's Parrakeet.
(a) Willbriggie, 7th October, 1912.
A number of small seeds.
(b) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
Small ovate seeds, pointed at one end; also black hard fragments^
possibly of seeds.
Psephotus hwmatorrhous. (M. 354; H. 517.) Crimson-bellied Parrakeet.
(a) Dubbo, September, 1911.
Numerous small whitish seeds.
(b) Moree, 5th October, 1909.
Many seeds — (1) small, yellow; (2) larger, orange; (3) long, narrow,
whitish. Fragments of stamens (?). Fragments of charcoal (?),.
some floating.
(c) Belaringar, N.S.W., 15th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous seeds in the crop were lost. Stomach contents —
Seeds — (1) minute, round, dark red; (2) larger, reddish seeds ,-
(3) small, yellow, round ; (4) more elongate, ovate.
(W.M.C.) — The seeds are — •(!) Amaranthus sp. ; (2) Atriplex sp. ; (3)
Atriplex sp. ; (4) not identified.
Psephotus hwmatonotus. (M. 361 ; H. 524.) Eed-backed Parrakeet.
(a) Orange, N.S.W., 13th July, 1909.
Crop shows a number of small, yellow seeds; some fragments of whita
seeds ; some very small pieces of charcoal.
(J.H.M.) — The seeds are not identifiable.
(b) Orange, N.S.W., 13th July, 1909.
Crop distended with small purple seeds and slightly larger oval white-
ones (? both grasses).
(J.H.M.) — -The seeds were not identifiable.
(c) Mannum, South Australia, 26th November, 1913.
Whitish masses resembling partially digested seeds; small ovate light
yellow seeds.
(J.H.M.) — Panicum sp.
Podargus strigoides. (M. 376; H. 437.) Tawny Frogmouth (More Pork).
Milson Island, Hawkesbury Kiver, 4th March, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Coleoptera, fragments of longicorn beetle
{Phoracantha sp.); insect egg capsules.
Podargus marmoratus. (M. 378; H. 439.) Marbled Frogmouth.
Pascoe Kiver, N.Q., 13th August, 1913.
(E.W.F. )^ Insect remains — Elytra of longicorn beetle; portion of-
grasshopper,
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 51
EHrystomuspadficus. (M. 381 ; H. 441.) Dollar Bird.
Hawkesbury River, February, 1910.
Three fiddler beetles {Ewpa^cila australasice) and fragments of another ;
a cicada.
(W.W.F.) — Chief food the rose chafers {E. australasice) — ^these were
probably captured on the wing or round an Angophora bush where
the beetles come to the flowers; Psaltoda sp. (cicada); another
beetle, Mcrdella sp. {M ordellidce) \ other beetle remains.
Dacelo gigas. (M. 386; H. 447.) Laughing Jackass.
Thredbo River, near Mount Kosciusko, 12th December, 1910.
Portions of cockchafers, &c. ; some minute portions of quartz.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly lam^ellicorn beetles {Onthophagus sp.) ; larvae of beetles,
probably Anoplognathiis sp.
Halcyon pyrrhopygius. (M. 390; H. 451.) Red-backed Kingfisher.
Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.)— Small bones, ? of small lizard; remains of spider; portions
of beetle {Dyiiscidce)\ legs of crustacean ?.
Halcyon sanctus. (M. 391 ; H. 452.) Sacred Kingfisher,
(a) Bathurst, January, 1910.
Remains of a fresh-water crayfish — Mr. McCulloch of the Australian
Museum has kindly identified the specimen as Thelphusa sp.
■{b) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of beetles and an almost perfect weevil; a spider.
Merops ornaiiis. (M. 396 ; H. 442.) Bee-eater,
.(a) Queensland.
Portions of beetles (?) and hymenoptera.
(W.W.F.) — Native banded bee (PodaJirius sp.) — -Hymenoptera; tabanid
fly {Tahanus sp.) — ^Diptera; Sphex sp.— Hymenoptera ; red-bodied
native bee. — Hym^enoptera ; remains of other flies, bees and beetles.
'(])) Queensland.
Portions of hymenoptera and (?) other insects.
(W.W.F.) — Hymenoptera, Thynnus sp. ; several bees; several frog-
hoppers {Eurymcla sp.) ; remains of beetles.
Xc) Queensland.
Portions of Hymenoptera, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Ant-lion {Glenunis sp.); remains of cricket; forest fly
(fam. Dexiidce) ; another fly; remains of flies and beetles.
'(d) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect rem^ains, m^ainly Hymenoptera, some evidently ants,
others unrecognisable.
t(e) Coonabarabran, 29th September, 1914.
Insect remains — Wings, seme probab'y of moths, otheis possibly
dipterous; head of dipteron; larva.
<W.W.F.) — Earthworm, small diptera, small moths, and one small
orthopteron.
Caprimulgus macrurus. (M. 399 ; H. 433.) Large-tailed Nightjar.
Claudie River, N.Q., 9th October, 1913.
(E.W.F.)— Insect remains — Prothorax of daterid beetle {Ahus ?);
remains of weevils and other Coleoptera.
52 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Salangana {Callocalia) frandca. (M. 401 ; H. 432.) Grey-rumped Swiftlet.
Claudie Kiver, N.Q., 20th September, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous insect remains — Coleoptera — small beetles; one
Buprestid {Cisseis sp.); Hymenoptera — small bees; Ortlioptera —
small crickets.
Cuculus inornatys. (M. 405; H. 456.) Pallid Cuckoo.
Upper Manilla, September, 1914.
Caterpillars ; portions of cockroach ; elytra of beetle.
(W.W.F.) — Mass of slender cutworm caterpillars.
Cacomantis flabelliformis. (M. 407 ; H. 457.) Fan-tailed Cuckoo.
(a) Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 23nd November, 1912.
Several very large grubs.
(W.B.G.)— Four or five larvae of lamellicorn beetles (White Grubs).
(b) Flinders Island, 25th November, 1912.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Small Hymenoptera, otherwise unrecog-
nisable.
(c) Ourimbah, N.S.W., 18th November, 1911.
Remains of hairy caterpillars (?) ; many hairs, barbed.
(W.W.F.) — Remnants of about six hairy caterpillars.
(d) Berry, 10th August, 1910.
Portion of a large grub; remains of many insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of larvae of saw fly {Philoinastix, Glaher) ; specimens
of two species of plant bugs {Dindimus versicolor and Lygceus sp.)
and small moth caterpillar.
Ghalcococcyx basalts. (M. 410; H. 461.) Narrow-billed Bronze Cuckoo.
Overland Corner, Murray River, South Australia, 2nd December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — -Numerous insect remains : — Coleoptera — Ditropidius sp.
{Chrysomelidce) ; elytra of ladybird, Coccinella transversalis {Coc-
cinellidce); remains- of other beetles, including head of weevil.
Hemiptera — Two bugs {Pentatomidce)) heads of other hemiptera.
Orthoptera — Remains of grasshopper ; portion of earwig. Hymen-
optera— Heads of ants.
Chalcococcyx plagosus. (M. 412; H. 462.) Bronze Cuckoo.
(a) Perth, September, 1909.
Stomach lined by black hairs, mostly parallel to each other— microscopi-
cally these have thorn- like processes projecting from the sides
( ? hairs of caterpillar) ; rest of contents black and granular (fragments
of hairs) ; three portions of a large insect ( ? caterpillar) ; a small
piece of white quartz ; microscopically an oval egg and a number of
curved brownish bodies of regular shape.
(W.W.F.) — These are chiefly the remains of " Woolly Bear " caterpillars,
as the heads are also on the bundles of hairs and skin — the cater-
pillars are probably the larvae of a Darala.
(b) Queensland.
Full apparently of remains of hairy caterpillars.
(W.W.F.) — Lepidopterous larva (Geometridw) ; Brown Looper cater-
pillar.
Chalcococcyx russata.
Claudie River, N.Q., 13th October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Stomach contents— Macerated heads and bodies of larvae,
? sawfly larvae.
THE I'OOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 55
Hirundo neoxena. (M. 429 ; H. 385.) House Swallow.
CronuUa, near Botany Bay, 2nd March, 1910.
Some fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.)— Fragments of undetermined beetle.
Cheramceca leucosternum. (M. 430; H. 387.) Black and White Swallow.
(a) Narrabri, N.S.W., January, 1912.
Portions of insects (beetles, &c.).
(W.W.F.) — Remains of wasps ; remains of several undetermined specie*
of ants.
(b) Narrabri, N.S.W., January, 1912.
Portions of insects (beetles, &c.).
(W.W.F.) — -Two specimens of a scarabid beetle {Liparetrus villosicollis) ;
remains of parasitic wasps (Braconidce).
Chelidon arid. (M. 432; H. 389.) Fairy Martin.
(a) Gular, 30th October, 1911.
Numerous fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Scraps of beetles, including a staphylinid ; a fly ; wings of a
parasitic Hymenopteron.
(b) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
(E.W^.F.") — Insect remains : — Coleoptera — Small kdy bird, Scymnu9
r<otcsGens. Hemiptera — ^Mgs {PentatomidcB) , Hymenoptera — Unre-
cognisable remains.
(c) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
(B.W.F.) — Insect remains : — Coleoptera — Thorax of beetle (ScarabcBidce);
remains of other beetles (? Hydrophilidce) ; other unrecognisable
insect remains.
Microeca fasdnans. (M. 433 ; H. 86.) Brown Fly-catcher.
(a) Near Blanchetown, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : — Coleoptera — Portions of Liparetrus sp. i
Paropsis sp. ; Heteronyx ? sp. Hymenoptera — Remains of ants.
(b) Sydney, 4th November, 1911.
Portions of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Numerous ant heads — a specimen of Gamponotus nigriceps\
beetle elytra ; a portion of a small caterpillar.
(c) Eidsvold, Q. (Dr. Bancroft).
Portions of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of chrysomehd beetles (genus Paropsis).
(d) 10th April, 1909, Sydney.
An ant, a ladybird, beetle's case, and remains of insects.
(e) CronuUa, near Botany Bay, 2nd March, 1910.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Heads of ants; remains of various ground beetles; a small
butterfly ( ? lycsenid) ; a spider.
(f) Bowral, April, 1910.
Remains of large insects ; a grub.
(W.W.F.) — Ants, small maggots, diptera, wings of gnats.
(g) Queensland.
Portions of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Beetle and ant remains, and remains of small Orthoptera.
54 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(h) Queensland.
Portions of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — ^Remains of ants and beetles,
(i) Queensland.
Portions of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — •Chiefly ants, a few remains of beetles,
(j) Queensland.
Portions of beetles.
(W.W.F. )^Beetle and ant remains; small caterpillar; and remains of
small Orthoptera.
"(k) Queensland.
A ladybird, fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F. )^Wood ants {Polyrhachis sp.) ; chrysomelid beetle {Parcpsis
sp.) ; two small spiders.
Petrceca leggei. (M. 433; H. 90.) Scarlet-breasted Robin.
Adelaide, 14tli May, 1910.
Numerous fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Heads of ants, small caterpillars, and wings of moths.
Petrceca phoenicea. (M. 440; H. 92.) Flame-breasted Robin.
(a) Adelaide, 14th May, 1910.
Portions of beetles and numerous minute fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.)— Nothing definite among beetle remains.
(b) Adelaide, 14th May, 1910.
Portions of beetles and insect larvae (?), and numerous fragments of
insects.
(W.W.F.)— Termites (white ants) {Coptotermes lacteus) and wing covers
of beetles.
<c) Bowral, April, 1910.
Numerous remains of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small ants; apparently nothing else.
(d) Slopes of Mount Kosciusko, 12th December, 1910.
Fragments of beetles ; a grub.
(W.W.F.) — -Wings of flies (Diptera); a small moth, larva of a moth;
small ground beetles.
(e) Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 25th November, 1912.
Portions of beetles, &c.
(W.B.G.) — A few portions of beetles {Histeridce and CeramhycidcB).
Fetrceca rosea. (M. 443; H. 94.) Rose-breasted Robin,
(a) Hawkesbury River, 11th June, 1909.
Fragments of sm.all beetles and insects ; an ant.
(W.W.F.) — Several ants; small ground beetles, amongst them the elytra
of a clerid.
^b) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, 29th June, 1912.
A number of insect fragments, apparently chiefly beetles.
(W.W.F.)— Fangs of a spider, remains of ants and a small brown beetle.
Petrceca goodenovii. (M. 444 ; H. 93.) Red-capped Robin.
(a) Dubbo, September, 1911.
Fragments of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Portions of ants and beetles.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 55-
(b) Tailem Bend, Soiitli Australia, May, 1910.
Numerous small fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small flies (Diptera), and some ant remains.
(c) Adelaide, 14th May, 1910.
Portions of beetles and numerous fragments of insects,
(W.W.F.) — Wings of moths; leg of grasshopper.
Pelrceca hicolor. (M. 446; H. 97.) Hooded Robin.
Port Adelaide, 19th May, 1910.
Remains of a large spider. Beetles and other insect remains.
(W.W.F.) — Spiders; small ants; legs of cricket ; wing covers of beetles^
Smicrornis breviroslris. (M. 449; H. 100.) Short-billed Tree-Tit.
(a) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Several oval, rough, dark brownish seeds.
(E.M.) — Geijera (see M. 7 ; H. 567) — -the rough and brownish appearance^
is due to the testa being digested at numerous points, giving a-
pitted appearance.
(b) Tailem Bend, South Australia, May, 1910.
Numerous minute fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Indefinite fragments of the wing covers of beetles.
(c) Tailem Bend, South Australia, May, 1910.
Numerous minute fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.)— Indefinite fragments of the wing covers pf beetles.
(d) Murray Flats, South Australia.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — No insect remains that can be determined.
(e) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Some minute fragments of insects and vegetable tissue,
(f) Cobar, September, 1911.
Numerous comminuted fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Insect fragments non-determinable.
(g) Milson Island, July, 1912.
Fragm.ents of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of insects — nothing definite,
(h) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains, unrecognisable; metallic fragments, pro-^
bably portions of beetle elytra,
(i) Near Morgan, South Australia, 29fch November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect rem-ains, mejaU'c fragments, elytra of beetle {Mor*
delta sp.).
Gerygone albigularis. (M. 451 ; H. 102.) White-throated Fly-eater.
Molong, N.S.W.
(E.W.F.) — Fragments of insects, beetles.
Pseudogerygone magnirostris. (M. 457; H. 110.) Large-billed Fly-eater.
Claudie River, N.Q., 29th October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Coccinellid beetle ; portions of weevil.
Pseudogerygone fusca. (M. 459; H. 106.) Brown Fly-eater,
(a) Berry, 13th July, 1910.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly the remains of small Diptera {Tipuh sp.) and others ^
remains of ants, and one wing cover of beetle.
S6 ^ SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15. :
(b) Lisarow, New South Wales, 1st May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — ^Fragments of insects, mostly unrecognisable; one small
weevil {Storeus sp., Erirhinides) complete.
Rhipidura albiscapa. (M. 476; H. 133.) White-shafted Fantail.
(a) Ha wkesbury River, 13th August, 1910.
(Gr. P. Darnell-Smith) — Insects.
(b) Queensland.
Portions of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Small homopterous insect {Cercopidce), ants, and several
native bees.
Rhipidurcu isura. (M. 486.)
(a) Claudie Eiver, N.Q., 15th September, 1913.
(E.W.F.)— Small beetle {Eucnemidw).
(b) Claudie River, N.Q., 15th September, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Portions of Hymenoptera, one wingless
female.
Rhipidura tricolor. (M. 487; H. 139.) Black and White Fantail;
Wagtail.
(a) Sydney, 7th June, 1909.
Many fragments of insect wings, elytra, &X3.
(W.W.F.)— Remains of small flies (Diptera).
(b) Sydney, 10th April.
Beetle cases in stomach.
(c) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly the remains of ants and small beetles.
(d) Queensland.
Portions of insects.
(W.W.F.) — ^Robber flies {Asilidw) — wings, legs, and head.
(e) Sydney, 4th November, 1911.
Numerous comminuted fragments of insects, some metallic.
(W.W.F.) — ^Numerous cpmminuted fragments of insects (including
several dipterous wing portions.)
Myiagra ruhecula. (M. 488 ; H. 143.) Leaden Fly-catcher.
,(a) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River.
Unrecognisable insect remains.
<b) Hawkesbury River, 27th October, 1912.
Portions of insects and a fly.
(W.B.G.) — ^Portion of a small cicada (Melampsaltal) \ head of fly
{Asilidce) ; damaged fly (probably Sarcophaga).
(c) Hawkesbury River, December, 1909.
Portions of several large insects ; a small vegetable capsule containing
little round seeds.
-"(W.W.F.) — Small froghoppers (Homoptera) taken on foliage; several
species of cicada ; remains of several species of beetles ; chiefly
homopterous insects (Gercopidce).
(d) Hawkesbury River, 20th November, 1909.
Fragments of beetles and other insects.
(W.W.F.) — Sjrrphid flies, a number; several muscid flies; a native
bee; few, if any, beetle remains ; flies and small Hymenoptera the
chief food.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 67
Myiagra nitida. (M. 490; H. 144.) Satin Fly-catcher.
Slopes of Mount Kosciusko, 10th December, 1910.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small beetles.
Sisura inquieta. (M. 493 ; H. 148.) Restless Fly-catcher.
(a) Tailem Bend, South Australia, May, 1910.
Remains of a number of insects.
(W.W.F.) — ^Remains of small moths (Lepidoptera) and spiders.
(b) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Whole stomach full of remains of blow-flies (Calliphara
ruffaeies and C. flavipes).
(c) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Same as (b) with the addition of a few beetle heads.
Monarcha melanopsis. (M. 501 ; H. 156.) Black-faced Fly-catcher.
Ourimbah, 18th November, 1911.
Portions of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Fragments of Hymenoptera and of beetles including a
eurculionid.
Coradna rohusta. (M. 504 ; H. 78.) Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike.
(a) Berry, 9th August, 1910.
A large seed like a small loquat seed ; portion of a large greenish grub.
(W.W.F.) — Two specimens of the spiny stinging slug or cup moth larva
{Doratifera vulnerans); larva of green hawk-moth (?) ; another
small moth larva; wing covers of chrysomelid beetle {Paropsis);
fragments of eucalyptus leaves.
(J.H.M.) — A single seed-pod which looks like a pod of Gomphohbium,
but no seeds inside ; I am not sure about it, but can give no better
explanation.
(b) Hawkesbury River, 16th October, 1910.
Stomach dyed purple ; three large kinds of beetles and many fragments
of insects.
(W.W.F.) — One buprestid beetle (perfect); one clerid beetle {Trogoden-
dron fasciculatum) ; lamellicom beetles and various weevils.
(J.H.M.) — The seeds are : — (1) Exocarpus cupressiformis, Labill. —
Native Cherry ; (2) small seeds of an unidentified plant;
(c) Coonalpyn, South Australia.
Portions of grasshoppers.
(W.W.F.)^ — Remains of small green mantis and a few beetle wings.
(d) Tarcoon, N.S.W., 23rd October, 1914.
Numerous small greyish bodies ( ? seeds) ; a few insect remains (Hexnip-
ter»).
(W.M.C.)— No sign of seeds; the small bodies appear to be of animal
origin.
(e) Tarcoon, N.S.W., October, 1914.
(E.W.F.)- — Insect remains — Fragments of grasshopper; head of wasp;
otherwise unrecognisable.
(f) Upper Manilla, September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Portions of grasshopper ; caterpillar; headi
of green beetles ( ? Callodes),
58 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Coracina parvirostris. (M. 505; H. 79.) Small-billed Cuckoo Shrike.
Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 25tli November, 1912.
Several large beetles.
(W.B.G.) — PterohelcBus (Tenebrionidce) ; numerous weevil remnants
including Gonipterus and various species.
Coracina mentalis. (M. 507; H. 81.) Little Cuckoo Shrike.
(a) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Remains of a large grub ; several small beetles, &c. ; eight black slightly
curved seeds about J in. long.
(W.W.F.)- — Coleoptera (fam. Chrysomelidw, Cadmus sp., nearly perfect);
other chrysomelid beetles; weevils; lepidopterous larva.
(J.H.M.)^ — Seeds unknown to me.
(b) Coonabarabran, 29th September, 1914.
(E.W.F.)- — Insect remains — Hemiptera; small weevil {Lcemosaccidce),
Coracina lineata. (M. 508 ; H. 82.) Barred Cuckoo Shrike.
Pascoe River, N.Q., 11th July, 1913.
Portions of figs.
{J .B.M.)—Ficus sp.
'Edoliisoma tenuirostre. (M. 509; H. 83.) Jardine's Caterpillar-eater.
Queensland.
Remains of grasshoppers (?) ; some large blackish seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Orthoptera — ^long-horned grasshopper, probably a form of
tree-cricket, but no thighs or head to identify.
{^M.)~-Geijera seeds. (See M. 7 ; H. 567.)
Lalage tricolor, (M. 510; H. 84.) White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater.
Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, 17th October, 1912.
Insect remains, amongst them a moth; small greyish seed-like bodies
(microscopically showing vascular bundles).
(W.B.G.)— Fragment of moth {Noctuidce ?).
(J.H.M.) — Seeds are Leiicopogon sp.
Cinclosoma punctatum. (M. 515; H. 212.) Spotted Babbling Thrush
(Ground-thrush).
Sydney, 3rd October, 1910.
A number of seeds — -amongst them seeds like wheat, small yellow seeds,
small speckled seeds ; a few small pieces of stone.
(J.H.M.) — Seeds of two leguminous plants, probably Trifolium and Medi^
cago.
Cinclosoma castanonotum. (M. 516; H. 213.) Chestnut-backed Babbling
Thrush (Ground-thrush).
(a) South Australia.
Some oval black seeds, some longer yellow ones, and a grass seed.
(E.M.)— (rei;era(see M. 7; H. 567) — some whole, some broken, and the
cotyledons free, and so appear as yellow seeds.
One grass seed — -Bromus — -appears to be B. sterilis, L.
(b) Alawoona, South Australia, December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Head of fly (Diptera) ; portion of elytra of
beetle (Coleoptera). Seeds — Minute, light brownish,
(o) Alawoona, South Australia, December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — ^Insect remains — -Ants (Formicidce); beetle (Tenebrionidce),
Seeds — Reddish, oval.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 69
(d) Alawoona, South Australia, December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains— Fragments of beetles.
Seeds — (1) Small greyish rounded seeds; (2) wheat grains.
(J.H.M.) — Cyperacece.
Drymaoedus bruniieopygius. (M. 521 ; H. 218.) Scrub Robin.
(a) Alawoona, South Australia, December, 1913.
(E.W.F.)— Insect remains— Ants {Formicidce) ; beetle (Tenehrionidce),
Seeds — Minute, reddish.
(b) Coonalpyn, South Australia.
Fragments of a beetle, &c.
(W.W.F.)— Ants and heteromerous beetles, &c.
(c) Fragments of insects, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ants and small beetles.
(d) Murray Flats, South Australia.
Fragments of insects ; about a dozen large round seeds.
(W.W.F.)— Hard black seeds and remains of ants.
(E.M.)— Seeds of Geijera. (See M. 7 ; H. 567.)
Hylacola cauta. (M. 525; H. 222.) Red-rumped Ground Wren.
Coonalpyn, South Australia.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.)— Remains of beetles and small leaf-hoppers (Cercopidw),
Psophodes crepitans. (M. 526; H. 223.) Coach- whip Bird.
(a) Bulli, N.S.W., 17th April, 1909.
(W.W.F.)— Remains of beetles of genus Onthophagm {i&m. ScarabcBtdce) — ■
probably captured by the birds about fresh cow-dung, on which
the beetles feed.
(b) Hawkesbury River, November, 1909.
Numerous fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — ^A large quantity of the heads and legs of ants, chiefly Ecta-
tomma tnetallicum, " the green-head;" a few dipterous maggots;
wings of small ground beetles; small bundles of vegetable fibre, like
the tips of some small weed ; other seeds — vegetable and animal
m-atter about equal.
(c) Hawkesbury River, 20th November, 1909.
Numerous fragments of insects; a few small yellow seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly vegetable matter, as in (b); remains of the same
" green-head ant," and one or two beetles.
(d) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 2nd April, 1910.
Remains of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Several spiders and remains; heads of ants; heads of small
plant bug ; bits of legs and wing cases of beetles ; plant tissue similar
to that in (b) and (c).
Pomatostomus frivolus. (M. 529; H. 226.) Babbler.
(a) Rowena, near Collarenebri, N.S.W., November, 1910.
Remains of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of beetle wings.
(b) Rowena, near Collarenebri, N.S.W., November, 1910.
Remains of insects.
(W.W.F.)— Remains of small locust and bits of wing copiers of beetles^
«0 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(c, d, e) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — All three stomachs contain nothing but a mass of broken
remains of ground beetles and of ants ; in one there are two moth
caterpillars.
(f) Gunnedah.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of wings and of Coleoptera (beetles).
(g) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Portion of a large grub ; remains of a beetle.
(W.W.F.) — An ant-lion larva (Neuroptera) ; lamellicorn beetle grub;
beetle remains; lepidopterous larvse.
Pamatostomus swperciliosus. (M. 530 ; H. 227.) White-browed Babbler,
(a) Tailem Bend, South AustraHa, May, 1910.
Portions of a cockroach ; a young grasshopper.
(W.W.F.) — -Cockroach {Panesthia sp.) ; remains of shield bugs {Eumecopus
australasice) (these bugs are found on the foliage of young gum
trees) ; wing covers of heteromerous beetle.
<b) Tailem Bend, South AustraHa, May, 1910.
Portions of a cockroach.
(W.W.F.) — One cockroach; small red ants; plant bugs; beetle remains;
legs of small mole cricket,
(c) Hallett's Cove, near Adelaide, 20th May, 1910.
Portions of beetles and other insects.
(W.W.F.)— Remains of small click beetles, earwigs, and other beetles.
Oreocichla lunulata. (M. 544; H. 160.) Mountain Thrush.
Bulli, N.S.W., 17th April, 1909.
(W.W.F.) — -Remains of some ground-living beetle — ^species cannot be
determined.
Oreocichla macrorhyncha. (M. 545; H. 161). Large-billed Ground-thrush.
■ Mt. Arthur, near Launceston, Tasmania, 29th November, 1912.
Two grubs, beetle remains, &c.
(W.B.G.) — Wire- worm (beetle larva, Tenehrionidce) ; head and thorax of
Adelium sp. {TenehrionidcB); beetle larvae.
Ephthianura albifrons. (M. 546; H. 235.) White-fronted Chat.
(a) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Seeds — various; the only insects — two small chalcid waspt.
(b) Canowindra, February, 1915.
Seeds and some remains of ants.
Ephthianura tricolor, Gould. (M. 547 ; H. 236.) Tricoloured Chat.
(a) Molong, N.S.W., October, 1913.
(E.W.F.)-~Insect remains— fragments of beetle ; head of bug (Hemiptera),
(b) Molong, N.S.W., October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains— Coleoptera (Weevil — Storeus spJ); Hemip-
(c) Molongi N.S.W., October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — -Insect remains — Hemiptera.
Megalurus galactotes. (M. 555; H. 184.) Tawny Grass-bird.
Claudie River, N.Q., 2nd October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous insect remains — heads of Hemiptera; one aknotl
com^le^Q hug {^ Reduviidce).
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 61
••— ■ — - — .
Origma ruhricata. (M. 557 : H. 185.) Rock Warbler.
(a) Hawkesbiuy River, 11th June, 1909.
A number of small seeds and parts of seeds of several kinds ;
a little sand.
(J.H.M.) — 'Seeds of ChenopodiacecB — perhaps species of Chenopodium or
Atriplex.
(b) Hawkesbury River, 11th June, 1909.
Several brownish purse-shaped seeds and some smaller white ones; no
insect remains.
(c) Hawkesbury River, November, 1909.
Some minute fragments of insects; some oval dark olive seeds, micros-
copically with tubercular surfaces.
(W.W.F. j — Dipterous larvae chiefly ; a few bits of beetle wings — suggest
feeding on the ground among horse or cow droppings.
(d) Middle Harbour, Sydney.
Insects remains (beetles, &c.); about fifteen small oval yellowish-white
seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Beetle remains ; several undetermined weevils.
(J.H.M.) — Panicum sp. [Graminece).
Chthonicola sagittata. (M. 558; H. 187.) Little Field W^en.
(a) Queensland.
Seeds — (1) Small triangular brown ones; (2) larger-oval yellowish-brown
ones ; a few minute fragments of insects.
(E.M.) — (1) Eight seeds of Cyperacew with triangular cross-section;
(2) Setaria glauca.
(b) Picton, June, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Portion of weevil (? Mandalotus sp.) ;
seeds — (1) small, ovate, pale yellow; (2) sm?iller, oval, reddish,
transversely rugose ; (3) small, round, verrucose, black ; (4) larger,
dark red, rounded.
(J.H.M.) — (1) Panicum sp. ; (2) Oxalis corniculata, L. ; (3) lonidium
filiforme, F.v.M.
Acanthiza nana. (M. 559; H. 188.) Little Tit.
(a) Sydney, 19th October, 1910.
Small fragments of insects, many pink poloured ; a small beetle.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of various small beetles; wings of gnats.
(b) Picton, N.S.W., June, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — fragments of beetles; larva (? caterpillar).
(c) Picton, N.S.W., June, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains, unrecognisable.
(d) Dubbo, 17th March, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — ^portions of weevils; otherwise unrecog-
nisable.
(e) Hawkesbury River, 18th April, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — ^portion of small beetles, including a
weevil (Misophrice) — otherwise unrecognisable.
Acanthiza inofnata. (M. 560; H. 189.) Plain-coloured Tit.
Middle Harbour, Sydney.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.)- — ^Remains of weevil (Curculionidce) ; remains of plant bug
(Lygceidce) ; wing of moth ; legs and wings of beetles ; remains of
Hymenoptera.
62 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Acanthiza pusilla. (M. 561 ; H. 190.) Brown Tit.
(a) Hawkesbury River, 6th April, 1910.
Fragments of insects (?) ; part of a grub.
(W.W.F.) — Several lepidopterous larvae ; wings of small flies; wing case-
of small beetles.
(b) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 15tli April, 1911.
Fragments of insects ; small white eggs of insect.
(W.W.F.) — Beetle remains and some bits of wings of lace-wings,
(c) Kurrajong Heights.
Fragments of insects.
(W.B.G.)- — Indeterminable fragments of beetles and other insects,
(d) Bibbenluke, N.S.W.
(E.W.F.)^ — Insect remains — Coleoptera and Hemiptera.
Acanthiza diemenensis. (M. 565; H. 191.) Brown-rumped Tit.
(a) Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 22nd November, 1912.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.B.G.) — Head of caterpillar; parts of Diphucephala {Scarahceidce),
and other small beetles.
(b) Mt. Arthur, near Launceston, 30th November, 1912.
Fragments of insects.
(W.B.G.)^ — Indeterminable fragments of sma.ll beetles and other insects.
Acanthiza pyrhopygia. (M. 568; H. 193.) Red-rumped Tit.
(a) Monarto South, South Australia, July, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains- — fragments of beetles.
(b) Willbriggie, near Yanco, 7th October, 1912.
Numerous minute fragments of insects. A beetle.
(W.B.G.) — MalacodermidcB (small specimen) ; small weevil {Curculionidce) ;
numerous particles of beetles, and a few small Hymenoptera.
(c) Tailem Bend, South Australia, May, 1910.
Some f ragment-s of insects ; a small piece of green leaf.
(W.W.F.) — Nothing definite; fragments of the wing covers of beetles;
green-head ants.
(d) Coonalpyn, South Australia.
Fragments of small beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.)^ — Termites' (white ants) wings; remains of small beetles.
(e) Coonalpyn, Soith Australia.
Fragments of small beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.)' — Remains of small beetles, but nothing definite.
Acanthiza lineata. (M. 569; H. 194.) Striated Tit.
(a) Sydney, 15th October, 1909.
Numerous fragm_ents of insects.
.(W.W.F.) — Small Coleoptera (weevils, Chrysomelidce, &c., that were
probably taken upon the foliage of young gum trees); small
Neuroptera ; also remains of Diptera.
(b) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 1st August, 1910.
Stomach full of insect fragments, amongst them the skins of some insect
pupse.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small spider; wing of flies; small larvae and
beetle remains.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIEDS. 63
(c) Adelaide, South Australia, May, 1910.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Plant bugs; dipterous larvae; small caterpillar; remains of
beetles.
(d) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 3rd October, 1910.
Small fragments of beetles.
(W.W.F.)^ — Remains of small beetles and sm^all Hemiptera.
(e) Middle Harbour, Sydney.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of Coleoptera and Hymenoptera.
(f) Locksley, N.S.W., February, 1911.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.)' — Very small fragments of beetles.
(g) Mt. Irvine, N.S.W., 5th June, 1915.
(E.W.F.)^ — Comminuted fragments of insects; remains of small flies
(? Cecidomyidce).
(h) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.W.F.)^ — Remains of ants; elytra of small beetles and other beetle
remains.
Acanthiza uropygialis. (M. 573; H. 195.) Chestnut-rumped Tit.
(a) Cobar, September, 1911.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Unrecognisable fragments of beetles and Hymenoptera.
(b) Cobar, September, 1911.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Portion of psyUid; wings of a thrips; unrecognisable frag-
ments.
(c) Dubbo, September, 1911.
Fragments of small beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Portions of beetles and hymenopterous wings.
(d) Dubbo, September, 1911.
Fragments of small beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Fragments of beetles and Hymenoptera (undeterminable).
(e) Overland Corner, South Australia, 2nd December, 1913.
(E.W.F.)^ — Insect remains^ — Heads of bugs; otherwise unrecognisable.
Seeds- — Small, ovate, flattened.
(J.H.M.) — Urtica incisa, Poir.
(f) Overland Corner, South Australia, 2nd December, 1913.
(E.W.F.)- — Insects remains^ — Elytra of beetle ; elytra of bug (Hemiptera).
Seeds — Three small, black, round seeds. '
(J.H.M.) — Seeds — Chenopodium sp.
(g) Mannum, South Australia, 26th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.)- — Insect remains^ — Coleoptera {Liparetrus sp. and Anthicus sp.),
(h) Murray Flats, South Australia.
Two small brown disc-shaped seeds ; fragments of insects.
(E.M.)- — Salt-bush, but species not identifiable — seed only present with-
out membranes, &c. (N.O. Chenopodiacece).
(W.W.F.)- — Chiefly dipterous remains.
Acanthiza chrysorrhoa. (M. 574; H. 196.) Yellow-rumped Tit.
(a) Berry, 10th August, 1910.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of beetles, wing covers and legs; small moth grub.
U SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
■I ■>»■
(b) Picton, June, 1914.
(E.W.F.)- — Insect remains — Beetles {Mandalotus sp.), otherwise un-
recognisable.
Acanthiza reguloides. (M. 575; H. 197.) Buff-rumped Tit.
(a) Locksley, February, 1911.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of small grasshopper and beetle remains.
(b) Dubbo, September, 1911.
Fragments of insects ; several scale insects.
(W.W.F. )^Several parts of Hymenoptera and beetles.
(c) Picton, N.S.W., June, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Head of ant; fragments of beetle.
(d) Picton, N.S.W., June, 1914.
Insect remains — Fragments of beetles and ants.
(e) Sydney, 10th April, 1909.
Beetles' cases, &c.
' (f) Bowral, April, 1910.
Numerous fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Wings of small moths; heads of ants and small grubs,
(g) Gosford, 24th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Fragments of insects, remains of small weevil, otherwise
unrecognisable.
Sericornis brunnea. (M. 580; H. 199.) Eed-throat.
Queensland.
Portions of a large insect ; several long curved yellow " seeds."
(W.W.F.) — Larvae of moth; beetle remains.
(E.M.)- — Not seeds- — insect eggs and embryos.
Sericornis harhara. (M. 581 ; H. 200.) Yellow-throated Scrub- Wren.
Mt. Irvine, N.S.W., 5th June, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Small round black seeds; small oblongate brownish seeds;
small, oval, yellowish seeds.
(J.H.M.) — The seeds are those of Phytolacca octandra, L. (Ink Weed);
Ghenopodium album, L. (Fat-hen); a native legume? ; and a small
yellow seed not identified.
Sericornis flindersi.
Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 22nd November, 1912.
. . Small yellowish and greyish seed-like bodies; fragments of beetle and
other insects.
(W.B.G.) — Head of tiger beetle [CicindelidcB) ; head of weevil {Curculion'
idee) ; numerous small beetle parts.
(J.H.M.) — The greyish seeds are Leucopogon sp.
Sericornis frontalis. (M. 582; H. 201.) White-browed Scrub Wren:
(a) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 2nd April, 1910.
Remains of a spider ( ?) and grub ( ?) ; some small white oat-shaped seedf
and a curved black one.
(W.W.F.) — One spider ; a large lepidopterous larva ; a May fly (Neurop-
tera) and wings of another neuropterous insect ; a few remains ol.
Coleoptera.
(J.H.M.) — Panicum marginatum, R.Br. (Gramincce) — I am not quite
^'^'- sure about the species, but it is certainly Panicum seed.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS.
'^5
(b) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 11th June, 1910.
Numerouij remains of insects ; several small seeds of three kinds.
(\Y.W.F.) — Egg capsule of cockroach; remains of small beetles; a book
scorpion.
(J.H.M.)' — A few grass seeds, evidently Payncum, but I do not recognise
the species ; a seed of a leguminous plant, but I do not recognise
the genus; a seed of a plant that seems to be compositous, with all
the traces of the pappus gone.
(c) Lisarow, N.S.W., 1st May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — ^Fragments of insects, unrecognisable. Seeds — small ovate,
yellowish.
(W.M.C.) — The seeds are (1) Setaria viridis (Pigeon Grass) ; (2) Panicum
sp. ; (3) Siegesbeckia orientalis, L.
<d) Lisarow, N.S.W., 1st May, 1915.
(E.W.F.)— Fragments of insects, unrecognisable. Seeds — (1) small,
ovate, yellowish ; (2) email, conical, slightly curved, black; (3) small,
oblongate, brown.
(W.M.C. )^ — The seeds are^ — (1) Setaria viridis {Figeon Grass) and Pani-
cum sy).; {2) Sie J eshechia orientalis, 'L.; (3) Geranium ^t^.
(e) Mt. Ir^dne, N.S.W., 5th June, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Small reddish rugose seeds; small oblongate yellow seeds.
(J.H.M.)- — The seeds are those of Oxalis corniculata, L. (Sour Sorrel)
and a native legume (?).
Sericornis maculata. (M. 586; H. 205.) Spotted Scrub Wren.
Port Adelaide, 19th May, 1910.
A number of very small shells and their fragments ; several small narrow
yellowish seeds; some fragments of insects and (?) grubs; some
vegetable fragments.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms {Agrotis sp.).
(J.H.M. )^ — The seeds are grass-seeds, probably a species of Eragrostis.
(C. Hedley, Australian Museum) — The shells are Assiminca tasmanica,
Tenn. Woods.
Malurus cyaneus. (M. 592.) Blue Wren.
Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 21st November, 1912.
Beetles and numerous insect remains.
(W.B.G.) — Fragments of at least two species of spider ; several portions
of ants (Formicidce); weevil {Merimnetes sp. ?) ; other beetle and
insect fragments.
Malurus cyanochlamys. (M. 593; H. 117.) Blue Wren,
(a) Neutral Bay, Sydney, 2nd November, 1911.
Fragments- of insects, some metallic.
(W.W.F.) — Fragments of fly [Trypetidw'i) and some unrecognisable
fragments.
' <b) Ourimbah, 18th November, 1911.
Remains of beetles, &c. ; some small kidney-shaped seeds.
(W.W.F.) — ^Fragments of beetles ; a small ant {Iridomyrmex dp.) ;
fragment of bug's wing, (fee.
(J.H.M.) — Rubus sp.? (Rosacece), probably R. rosifolius, a native rasp-
berry. '
t 349dl-C
66 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(c) Orange, N.S.W., 13th July, 1909.
Numerous elytra of small beetles (?).
(W.W.F.)— Kemains of ants {Ectatomma metalliciim) ; elytra of small'
chrysomelid beetles.
(d) Orange, N.S.W., 13th July, 1909.
Numerous fragments of small beetles (?).
(W.W.F.) — Eemains of small beetles and ants.
(e) Port Adelaide, 19th May, 1910.
Numerous remains of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Heads of plant bugs ; wing covers of beetles.
(f) Port Adelaide, 19th May, 1910.
Numerous remains of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Nothing definite; two sm^all cocoons.
Malurus melanotus, Gould. (M. 595; II. 119.) Black-backed Wren.
(a) Overland Corner, South Australia, 2nd December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Coleoptera, elytron of weevil; Hemiptera,,
heads and other remains.
(b) Overland Corner, South Australia, 2nd December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Portions of weevil. Seeds — one small*
rounded seed.
(J.H.M.) — Clienojiodium, sp.
Malurus lamherti. (M. 602 ; H. 125.) Variegated Wren.
Hawkesbury Kiver, 26th October, 1909.
Broken fragments of beetles.
(W.W^.F.) — Eemains of small beetles.
Malurus assimilis. (M. 603.)
(a) Alawoona, South Australia, 6th December, 1913.
Insect remains — Unrecognisable.
(b) Alawoona, South Austraha, 5th December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insects remains. — Portions of beetles {Chrysomelithv ?) ; other-
wise unrecognisable.
Stipiturus mahchurus. (M. 610; H. 174.) Emu Wren.
(a) Sydney, 3rd October, 1910.
Portions of insects ; a long green leg of an insect.
(W.W.F.) — Eemains of green mantis; wing covers of small lamellicoiD.
beetles; elytra of Heteromera (beetles).
(b) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 15th April, 1911.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Small Homoptera and a few beetle remains.
(c) Middle Harbour, 15th April, 1911.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Insect remains too indefinite to determine, but probably
beetles and some Homoptera.
Artajnus mehnops. (M. 631 ; H. 395.) Black-faced W^ood-swaliow.
Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W^.F.) — Fragments of beetles and Hemiptera.
.THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 67
Artamus tenebrosus. (M. 634 ; H. 398.) Wood-swallow,
-(a) Narrabeen, N.S.W., 26t}i March, 1910.
Remains of beetles and other insects ; some small seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Elytra and legs of small beetles : heads and remains of small
bees ; one small fly ; bee remains most abundant.
{S .'RM.)—Cladium sp. {Ct/peracece), probably C. niariscus, R.Br.— a
tall coast plant producing seeds in abundance.
r(b) Cobar, September, 1911.
Numerous portions of insects — bugs, &c.
(W.W.F.)— Wings of Thijnnidce and of Dip^era; numerous portions of
small plant or shield bugs {PenMomidce — Dictyotus sp.).
<(c) Cobar, September, 1911.
Numerous portions of insects.
■(W.W.F.)— Wings of Thymiidm (wasps) ; wings of flies (Diptera) ; frag-
ments of plant bugs {Pentatomidce — Dictyotus sp.); portions of
larvcr.
Id) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Numerous remains of small beetles.
(W.W.F.) — These beetles are all chrysomelid beetles of the genus Paropsis.
■{e) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, 16th October, 1912.
Full of portions of insects, amongst them a moth.
(W.B.G.)— Noctiiid moth, resembhng Agrotis? ; portions of wasp
(Hy menoptera) .
(f) Upper Manilla, N.S.W. September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Fragments of beetles and Hymenoptera; green blow-fly;
larva.
(W.W.F.) — Winged ants, syrphid fly and cutworms.
<g) Bibbenluke, N.S.W.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Coleoptera, Creophilus erythrocephalus
{StaphylinidcB) ; elytron of water beetle (HydrophilidcB).
ih) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of blow-flies (Callipliora sp.) ; a small fossorial wasp,
(i) Mannum, South Austraha, 26th November, 1913.
Fledghng, just out of nest.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Coleoptera and Hymenoptera, one wasp
almost complete,
(j) Coonabarabran, 29th September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Several wasps (Hymenoptera).
OollyriocicJda harmonica. (M. 636; H. 68.) Grey Shrike-Thrush,
(a) Sydney, 7th June, 1909.
Elytra, &c., of several insects.
(W.W.F.) — Chrysomehd beetles ; remains of grasshopper.
<b) Hawkesbury River, 26th October, 1909.
A large green- with-gold-spots grub, 1 inch long ; portion of a grasshopper
(carapaces) ; legs, &c., of several large beetles ; several small pale blue
eggs.
(W.W.F.) — Caterpillar of large Hawk-moth {Ccequosa triangularis) ;
Banksia moth [Danima hanksioi) ; looper caterpillar; beetles — Ehter
sp., AUecula sp., and other undeterminable species ; remains of
grasshopper or locust.
68 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(c) Coonabarabran, 29th September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains, mostly fragmentary and unrecognisable;,
two pupse (? Diptera).
(d) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Moth caterpillar ; remains of ants in large numbers — Bulldog
Ant {Myrmecia sp.), Camponotus sp. ; remains of Coleoptera and
jaws of Paropsis beetle.
Collyriocichla superciliosa. (M. 639.)
(a) Pascoe Kiver, N.Q., 12th August, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — elytra of beetle.
(b) Claudie Eiver, N.Q., 26th September, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — ^head of weevil. One seed capsule.
(c) Claudie Kiver, N.Q., 29th September, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Clutinous jaws (? Orthopterous) ; heads and
portions of elytra of Hemiptera. Small bones, ? lizard. Small seed
capsule.
(d) Claudie Eiver, N.Q., 23rd October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Elytra of beetles (including chrysomelid
beetle); head of weevil ; insect egg cases.
(e) Claudie Kiver, N.Q., 23rd October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Kemains of insects ; portions of beetles ; insect egg case.
(?) Seeds — Whitish bodies in semi-gelatinous matrix.
Orallina picata. (M. 646 ; H. 67.) Magpie Lark.
(a) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Several small beetles and remains of insects ; some small yellow grass-like
seeds; a small brown one ; a larger brown one.
(W.W.F.) — Small weevils; remains of spiders; small lepidopterout
larvse; other small beetles. I have, on the Murray, watched &
peewit (magpie lark) bring fourteen large grasshoppers (plague
locusts) to her nestlings in half an hour.
(J.H.M.) — Seeds of Eriochloa polystachya, H.B. and K. (a grass alhed to
Panicum) ; seeds of Setaria (or perhaps Panicum) ; the large brown
seed-hke body seems to be a cocoon — it is hollow, and has a
circular large hole on one end.
(b) Sydney, 7th June, 1909.
Some brown pieces of maize seed; two seeds of wheat; one small flyj
several small beetles, almost complete ; many fragments of insecti,
(W.W.F.)— Fragments of wheat and maize ; remains of beetles and small
flies ; green-head ant.
(c) Kowena, near Collarenebri, November, 1910.
Small beetles and portions of other insects.
(W.W.F.) — Plague locusts {Ghortoicetes terminifera); ground-feeding
beetles.
(d) Queensland.
Three kinds of seeds— (1) Narrow black, (2) rounded black, (3) oval;
yellow; portion of a grasshopper and other insects.
(E.M.)—(1) Insect egg cases; (2) a legume; (3) grass, >Setom, probably
S. glauca (3 mm. long).
(W.W.F.)^ Weevil and other beetles; a long-horned grasshopper.
(e) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.)— Kemains of beetles and small ants, much broken up; cater-
pillar ; carab beetle ; grain of wheat
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 69
(f) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of ants and beetles, small and broken up; a grub
(lamellicorn) ; broken grain of wheat.
OynDiorhina tihicen. (M. 617; H. 213.) Black-backed Magpie.
(a) Berry, N.S.W., 21st May, 1909.
(W.W.F.) — Wheat and plant remains; several ground beetles; green-
head ants {Ectatomnm inetallicum).
(b) Sydney, 2nd March, 1910.
' (W.W.F.)— Dipterous larva? ; one cutworm ; two small grubs ; ground
spider ; remains of a number of locusts and grasshoppers — chief
food, locusts and grasshoppers.
' (c) Berry, 9th August, 1910.
Stomach full of remains of insects, amongst them a number of small
black beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small heteromerous beetles, small ground weevila,
and a few carabid beetles — chiefly fragments of beetles.
(d) Bowral, April, 1910.
Numerous portions of large insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of bull-dog ants, Myrmecia sp. ; legs of grass-
« hopper ; remains of small ground beetles, Anoplognathus sp. and other
ScarahcBidcB.
(e) Hawkesbury River, 13th August, 1910.
• (G. P. Darnell-Smith) — Two soldier-ants ; one wild fig.
({) Upper Manilla, September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous insect remains; fragments of beetles chiefly
scarabs and weevils, including (?) Sosytelus sp.
(g) Walgett, September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Small beetles {CarahidcB) ; a mycterid weevil (Buharis sp.);
grasshopper remnants ; other insect remains unrecognisable.
(W.W.F.)— Remains of grasshoppers, heads of carabs and Heteromera,
and ground curcuho.
(h) Tarcoon, 23rd October, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains ; fragments of beetles ; heads of ants; other-
wise unrecognisable.
Qymnorhina leuconota. (M. 650; H. 244.) White-backed Magpie.
(a) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Almost all remains of Coleoptera — several heads of weevils;
remains of Heteromera; portion of a scarab beetle (OnthopJiagus)
head of chrysomelid beetle {Paropsis sp.) ; heads of black bulldog
ants (Myrmecia sp.), and remains of smaller ants; partly digested
• ^' grains of wheat and other vegetable matter.
(b) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of Coleoptera — head of scarab beetle (Onthophagus) ;
heads and elytra of weevils [GurculionidcB) ; remains of Heteromera ;
remains of black bulldog ants {Myrmecia sp.) ; several legs and pro-
thorax of Locustidw. The greater portion of the stomach of this
bird consisted of partly digested wheat grains.
Cracticus nigrigularis. (M. 654 ; H. 248.) Black- throated Butcher-bird.
Uralla, May-June, 1915. •
(W.W.F.) — Two immature grasshoppers {Locustidce) only.
70 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Cracticus destructor. (M. 658; H. 252.) Butcher-bird.
(a) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Remains of insects ; several elongated kidney-shaped " eeeds," yellowish
brown to black.
(W.W.F.)— Beetle remains, earwig, and wings of Orthopteia.
(E.M.) — Not seeds ; eggs of insects.
(b) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Portions of grasshoppers and beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Large mantis; chrysomelid beetles {Paropsis sp.); cock-
roach ; heteromerous beetles ; other beetle remains.
(c) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Remains of grasshoppers ; large brown seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Brown moth {Noctuidce).
(EM.)—Geijera seeds (see M. 7 ; H. 567), black testa gone.
(d) Hawkesbury River, 29th June, 1911.
Smell of bugs ; one large bug and many remains of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Green plant bug (Hemiptera — Cuspicona sp.); wings of
flies ; beetle remains.
(e) Tarcoon, N.S.W., October, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — portion of a grasshopper; legs of beetles;
otherwise unrecognisable.
J'alcunculus frontatus. (M. 660; H. 256.) Yellow-belhed Shrike-tit.
Tamworth, 30th October, 1909.
Many fragments of insects ; metallic elytra of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of lameUicorn beetles ; remains of chrysomelid
beetles.
"Oreoica cristata. (M. 662 ; H. 258.) Bell-bird.
Coonalpyn, South Australia.
Fragments of insects ; a grain of wheat.
( W.W.F. )^Some grains of wheat; ants {Camponotus sp.); remains of
small beetles.
Kempiella Jcempi.
(a) Claudie River, N.Q., 9th October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Fragments of insects; portion of beetle.
(b) Claudie River, N.Q., 9th October, 1913.
(E W.F.) — -Insect fragments; remains of ants and beetle.
Pachycephala pectoraUs. (M. 667; H. 265.) White-throated Thickhead.
(a) Hawkesbury River, 13th June, 1909.
Two larvse of saw-flies; remains of a large grasshopper (?).
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly saw-fly larvse — Perga sp. (three specimens);
Pterogophorus sp.
(b) Hallett's Cove, near Adelaide, May, 1910.
Portions of large beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ants, earwig, and beetles.
(c) Hawkesbury River, 6th August, 1910.
(G. P. Darnell-Smith)^Insects ; insect larvse ; one spider.
,(d) Hawkesbury River, 6th August, 1910.
(G. P. Darnell-Smith)— Small seeds.
i(e) Hawkesbury River, 13th August, ]»910.
(G. P. Darnell-Smith)— Insects.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 71
(f) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ants, generally red bulldog a,nt {Mymiecia si^.),
Camponotus sp. ; elytron of weevil ; egg capsule of small cockroach.
(g) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.AV.F.) — Remains of beetles in large quantities; red bulldog ant;
black bulldog ant ; egg capsules of small cockroach ; egg of phasmid.
PacJujcephala riificentris. (M. 674; H. 271.) Rufous-breasted Thickhead.
(a) Hawkesbury River, 26th October, 1909.
. Metalhc-tinted fragments of beetles; two hymenopterous (? dipterous)
insects.
(W.W.F.) — ^AVing case of Stifjmrdera sp. (Coleoptera) ; chrysomehd and
ground beetles (Coleoptera) ; small frog-hopper (Homoptera).
(b) Tamworth, 20th October, 1909.
Many fragments of beetles ; a small fly, or hymenopterous insect ; a
bug (?) ; a pupa or grub (?),
(W.W.F.) — Beetle remains : Chiefly small Heteromera, found among
fohage ; saw no grub or fly in this stomach.
(c) Hawkesbury River, January, 1910.
Portions of insects ; empty seed vessel of a plant.
(W.W.F.) — Spiders, two species; homopterous insects (Cercopidce);
head, body, and damaged wings of weevil beetles; small plant
bugs — food obtained upon low shrubs, probably eucalyptus.
(d) Hawkesbury River, 20th November, 1909,
Fragments of beetles and other insects.
(W.W\F.) — Nearly all remains of beetles; small Homoptera.
(e) Queensland.
About eight rounded mottled seeds ; portions of a grasshopper (?), &c.
(E.M.) — The seeds are Geijera (see M. 7 ; H. 567) ; mottled appearance
due to unequal wearing of testa.
'(W.W.F.) — Remains of long-homed grasshopper; a few insect remains,
(f) Queensland.
Most of a large grasshopper, and other fragments ; one brownish " seed.
(W.W.F.) — Green grasshopper {Cadicia valida) ; other insect remains.
(E.M.) — Not a seed, but an egg case (chitinous).
(g) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Portion of a large grub.
(W.W.F.) — Lepidopterous larva (moth grub),
(h) Ourimbah, 18th November, 1911.
Portions of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Wing, head, and legs of beetles, including a weevil (Cwr-
culionidce) ; numerous non-distinguishable insect parts,
(i) Willbriggie, 7th October, 1912.
Numerous minute fragments of insects ; several beetles.
(W.B.G.) — Weevil {DesiantJia sp.); part of carab wing cover; ant's
head [Formicidw).
Pachycephala gilherti. (M. 676; H. 273.) Gilbert's Thickhead.
Murray Flats.
Some round black seeds and smaller yellow ones.
(EM.)— Geijera (see M. 7; H. 567); smaller yellow ones are the coty-
ledons, (fee, set free from the hard enclosing testas.
72 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Eopsaltria austmUs. (M. 683; H. 252.) Yellow-breasted Shrike Robin.
(a) Sydney, 8th May, 1909.
An ant ; a small beetle ; some fragments of insects ; fifteen oval reddish
seeds, a little smaller than wheat seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Chief food, green-head ants {Ectatomma metallicuni),
(J.H.M.)— The seeds are those of a Leucopogon, probably; they are
certainly from an epacridaceous plant.
(b) Sydney.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly the remains of the green-head ant (Ectatomma
metallicum).
(c) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 1st August, 1910.
Bull -dog ant ; remains of small beetle ; numerous other insect remains.
(W.W.F.) — Chief food, ants of various species; bull-dog ant {Mynnecia
gulosa) ; wood ant (Polyrhachis sp.) ; green-head ant {Ectalomma
metallicum) ; moth caterpillar and wing cover of beetle.
(d) Hawkesbury Eiver.
Beetles and other insects.
(W.W.F.) — Yellow cicada (Homoptera); chrysomehd beetle (metallic
Calomela).
(e) Molong, N.S.W.
Insect remains: Unrecognisable.
Eopsaltria chrysorrhoa. (M. 684; H. 259.) Yellow-breasted Robin.
Queensland.
Fragments of beetles ; one rounded rough brown seed.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly spiders; a few beetle remains.
(EM.)—Geijera (see M. 7 ; H. 567)— black testa gone.
Aphelocephala leucopsis. (M. 689; H. 239.) White-faced Titmouse.
(a) Hallett's Cove, near Adelaide, 20th May, 1910.
Numerous fragments of beetles, &c. ; portion of a seed and some chloro-
phyll— containing vegetable fragments ; a little sand.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of wing covers and legs of beetles.
(b) Murray Flats, South Austraha.
Fragments of seeds, amongst them some elongated orange ones and some
fragments hke wheat.
(E.M.) — All grains of wheat in various stages of digestion and
preservation.
<c) Murray Flats.
Fragments of seeds, amongst them one grain of wheat and about a dozen
orange-coloured seeds.
(E.M.)— All wheat grains.
(d) Mannum, South Australia, 26th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — ^Insect remains : Unrecognisable.
(e) Gular, 30th October, 1.911.
Some fragments of insects; a number of minute reddish-brown eeedt;
a few minute black ones.
(W.W.F.) — Undeterminable fragments of insects, &c.
(f) Gular, 30th October, 1911.
Fragments of insects; several elongated orange seeds, and some minute
brownish ones.
(W.W.F.)^Several pupae of flies [Drosophilidce) and some unrecognisablt
insect parts, &c.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 73
(g) Narrabri, January, 1912.
Portions of beetles, &c. ; about ten elongated orange-coloured seeds;
several oval white ones.
(W.W.F.)— Eemains of Coleoptera.
(J.H.M.)— Three different seeds were found in this parcel, which I have
marked A, B, C. B. consisted of Carduus lanceolatus, Linn. (Comr
fOSitCB).
(h) Willbriggie, N.S.W., 7th October, 1912.
Several elongated orange seeds; one small orange seed; occasional
minute fragments of insects.
(i) Belaringar, N.S.W., 20th March, 1915.
(E.W.F.)— Seeds, (1) Small, elongate, hght brown; (2) Minute, round,
black or dark brown.
' Minute insect fragments.
Neositta chrysoptera. (M. 694:; F. 286.) Orange-winged Tree-runner.
(a) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, June, 1912 (7.30 a.m.).
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.)— Eemains of spider and a very small brown beetle.
(b) Gunnedah, February, 1911.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of beetles (Coleoptera) ; larva of moth.
Neositta leucocephala. (M. 695 ; H. 287.) White-headed Tree-runner.
Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Small grasshopper; remains of froghoppers (Homoptera);
a few remains of beetles.
Neositta pileata. (M. 697; H. 289.) Black-capped Tree-runner.
(a) Murray Flats, S.A.
Small beetles ; a grub, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Small leaf-hoppers, Cercopidce (Homoptera); a few beetle
remains — among them one click beetle, mostly taken under bark.
(b) Murray Flats, S.A.
Small beetles, grub, &c. ^
(W.W.F.) — Click beetle, ants, froghoppers (FulgoridcB), small heterom-
erous 'beetle — all probably taken on tree-trunk.
Climacteris picumna. (M. 704; H. 281.) White-throated Tree-creeper.
(a) Narrabeen, 26th March, 1910.
Smell* of ants; fragments of insects ; (?) ants' '* eggs."
• (W.W.F.) — Chief food remains are ants of several species, with a few^
remains of elytra of small beetles ; I see no ant eggs (larvaa?)
(b) Mount Lofty, Adelaide, 17th May, 1910.
Large portions of several beetles and numerous fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of one of the ground wee\als.
(c) Bowral, April, 1910.
Numerous remains of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Ants and wing covers of small ground beetles.
(d) Tent Hill, Northern New South Wales, 16th December, 1910.
Portions of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Pupa of cicada, small moths, and remains of bark-haunt' ng
beetles.
74 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(e) Murray Flats.
Fragments of insects ; some minute vegetable fragments.
(W.W.F.) — Nearly all remains of ants ; a few beetle remains.
(f) Molong, New South Wales.
(E.W.F.) — Remains of ants: Ectatomm^ metalUcum ^nd. E. socius.
(g) Narrabri, New South Wales, January, 1912.
Stomach (size of cherry) full of insect remains, many apparently ants.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ants [Ectatomma metallicum — grcenheads, and
Iridomyrmex sp.).
'Climacieris scandeyis. (M. 705; H. 282.) Brown Tree-creeper.
(a) Locksley, February, 1911.
Fragments of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — A small Mutilla sp. (wasp); several ants; beetles, appar-
ently belonging to species found on tree trunks.
(b) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Full of insect remains.
(W.W.F.) — Nearly all ants {FormicidcB) ; a few beetle remains,
{c) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W^.W.F.)— Remains of small black ants {Iridomyrniex rufoniger).
(d) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.)— The whole stomach packed with remains of small black ant
{Iridomyrmex rufonig3r).
(e) Above Morgan, Murray River, South Australia, 30lh November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains: Larva; numerous remains of ants, including
Ectatomma sociiis.
:Zosterops goiddi. (M. 709 ; H. 303.) Green-backed Silver-eye.
September, 1909, Perth.
Some fragments of insects; part of a large grub (?) ; some fragments of
green vegetable matter.
(W.W.F.) — Beetle remains; various insect remains.
Zosierops coerulescens. (M. 712; H. 301.) Silver Eye.
(a) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 5th February, 1910.
Stomach stained a crimson-lake ; remains of blackberries ; wings of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Wings of the Passion-vine Froghopper {Scolypopa (Pochazia)
australis).
<b) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 2nd April, 1910.
Fragments of insects ; a minute reddish seed.
•.(W.W.F.) — Two lepidopterous larvae; part of wing of fly and a few
fragments of beetle wings.
(c) Middle Harbour, 2nd April, 1910.
Fragments of insects and seeds ; some minute grains of quartz.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of very small spider.
(d) M ddle Harbour, Sydney, 6th August, 1910.
Portion of a grub and small spider.
(W.W.F.) — Wings of Psylla; small jumping spider; Icoper caterpillar;
and remains of small lace wings (Neuroptera).
(o) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 6th August, 1910.
Portion of a grub ; several minute coral-pink oval eggs.
(W.W.F.) — Small moth grub; other rem-ahis indefinite.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 75
(f) Mt. Lofty, Adelaide, 17th May, 1910.
A few fragments of beetles and other small insects.
(W.W.F.) — Several small moth caterpillars and a beetle.
(g) Mt. Lofty, Adelaide, 17th May, 1910.
Legs of yellowish spider (?); about half-dozen whitish grubs, about half
inch long.
(W.W.F.) — Small caterpillars and a spider,
(h) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 11th June, 1910.
Some insect remains ; stomach nearly fall of small flowers.
(W.W.F.) — Small caterpillar or moth ; a number of thrips ; a stapli^'lin'd
beetle and remains of small beetles ; all these insects probably cap-
tured on the flowers.
(J.H.M.)— See (i).
(i) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 11th June, 1910.
Some insect remains ; stomach nearly full of small flowers.
(W.W.F.) — Insect remains few and indefinite ; only two or three frag-
ments of beetles.
(J.H.M.) — Flowers of Leucopogon, identical with those of (h),
(j) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 11th June, 1910.
Some insect remains ; stomach nearly full of small flowers.
(W.W.F.) — Wing covers of small beetles, and legs of a spider probably
taken on the flowers.
(J.H.M.) — Flowers of the Leiicopogon, identical with those of (i).
(k) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 11th June, 1910.
Stomach stained a deep purple ; intestinal contents deep purple; portion
of an insect ; pale yellowish skins of some fruit.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of one beetle.
(J.H.M.) — Skins of the Ink-berry {Phytolacca octandra, L.) — the note
that the stomach was stained a deep purple gave me the hint as to
the origin of the skin, and I find that the stain is identical with
that of berries in this herbarium.
(1) Neutral Bay, Sydney, 19th October, 1910.
Vegetable fragments, apparently of a berry ; a few minute fragments of;
insects.
(m) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles ; a yellow seed.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small beetles.
(E.M.) — The " yellow seed " is an insect egg — a roand smooth case with,
a yellow mass of yolk,
(n) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 24th June, 1911.
Fragments of insects, amongst them a small beetle ; some fragments of
vegetable tissue and two smallish dull-green oval seeds {2 Exocarpiis).
(W.W.F.) — A small weevil, mainly remains of a very small brown
weevil; hardly anything else, except this beetle.
(E.M.) — Seeds of some legume,
(o) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 24th June, 1911.
Fragments of insects ; skin of caterpillar.
(W.W.F.) — Mites'; Hawk-moth larvae; a number of small caierpillars ;
remains of aphids.
76 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(p) Mt. Irvine, N.S.W.
Seeds — Black, round, flattened, nitid seeds present in stomach and
intestines.
(J.H.M.) — Phytolacca ociandra, L.
(q) Sydney, 4th November, 1911.
T>vo grubs; remains of purple-tinted fruit.
(W.W.F.) — Two moth caterpillars (fragmentary); portion of head of
weevil {Curculionidcb).
(r) Sydney, 25th June, 1912.
Two pepper-tree berries with pink rind ofT; five small Diptera (?).
*«««(W.W.F.) — Five small midges (fam. Chironomidce).
(s) Sydney, 26th June, 1912.
Portions of a fruit ; one small fly.
(W.W.F.) — Small midge (fam. Chironomidce).
(J.H.M.) — Portions of succulent exocarp of Persoonia sp. {Proteacece),
(t) Sydney, 26th June, 1912.
Portions of fruits ; a few remnants of insects.
(W.W.F.)— Remains of small flies (Diptera?).
(J.H.M.) — Portions of exocarp of Persoonia sp. (Proteacece).
(u) Sydney, 26t]i June, 1912.
Portions of fruits ; a few remnants of insects.
(J.H.M.) — Membraneous skin of exocarp, with succulent matter attached,
of Persoonia sp. [Proteacece).
<v) Sydney, 7th July, 1912.
Two pepper-tree berries.
(J.H.M.) — Schinus molle, Linn.
<w) Sydney, 7th July, 1912.
Fruits.
(J.H.M.) — Seeds of Phytolacca octandra, Linn. {Phytolaccece) ; two
diflerent seeds which I have marked A and B.
(x) Sydney, 10th July, 1912.
One pepper-tree berry.
(y) Sydney, 20th November, 1911.
A few insect remains; vegetable fragments.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of parasitic wasp {Braconidce) ; larva of moth.
(J.H.M.) — Fragments of flowers and one seed of Leucopogon sp.
(Epacridece).
(z) Ourimbah, 18th November, 1911.
Stomach dyed purple ; small seeds in a purplish pulp ( ? fig).
(J.H.M.) — Rubus sp.? (Rosacece), probably R. rosif alius, a native rasp-
berry.
\(aa, ab, ac) Sydney, 6th August, 1912.
Fruits with small black seeds.
(J.H.M.) — Phytolacca octandra, L,
(ad) Sydney, 6th August, 1912.
A pepper tree berry.
(ae) Sydney, Cth August, 1912.
Fruit with small seed.
(J.H.M.) — Solanum nigrum., L.
(af) Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 22nd November, 1912.
Seeds, with portion of fruits.
(J.H.M.) — Leucopogon sp.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 77
DiccBum hirundinaceum. (M. 722 ; H. 375.) Mistletoe Bird.
Hawkesbury River, 23rd March, 1912.
Fragments of insects in stomach; mistletoe fruit (Loranthus sp.) in
lower intestine.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of five small spiders.
Pardalotus ornatus. (M. 723; H. 376.) Strated Pardalote.
(a) Near Morgan, Murray River, South Australia, 29th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — -Insect remains, &c. : Mainly unrecognisable, heads of ants
(? E. metallicum).
(b) Alawoona, South Australia, December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Portion of beetle.
Pardalotus afjinis. (M. 725; H. 378.) Yellow-tipped Pardalote.
Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 25th November, 1912.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Beetle elytra, including Paroptis sp.
{Ghrysomelidw).
Pardalotus sp. {affinis or punctatus).
Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 27th November, 1912.
Full of fragments of insects, including metallic elytra of beetles.
(W.B.G.) — FulgoridcB (one specimen) ; various fragments of small beetlef.
Pardalotus functatus. (M. 726 ; H. 379.) Spotted Pardalote.
(a) Gular, 30th October, 1911.
Fragments of insects.
(W^.W.F.) — One moth ; many non-determinable fragments of insects.
<b) Hawkesbury River, 23rd March, 1912.
Metallic fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of Coleoptera, and wing of braconid wasp.
{q) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small plant bugs (Homoptera) ; a few beetle legs
and wings,
(d) Hawkesbury River, N.S.W., 11th June, 1909.
Fragments of small beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — One thrips ; beetle remains ; floating scales may be those of
aphis.
<e) Hawkesbury River, N.S.W., 11th June, 1909.
Small fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Undefinable; oil and scales suggest that the bird had been
feeding upon cutworm moths (Agrotis sp.) or aphis.
(f) Jindabyne, N.S.W., 12th December, 1910.
Minutely comminuted fragments of a metallic beetle.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of wing covers of Coleoptera.
(g) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, lerp-scales (?).
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small chrysomelid beetles (chiefly).
Pardalotus xanthopygiuSy McCoy. (M. 727; H. 380.) Yellow-rumped
Pardalote.
Mannum, South Australia, 26th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Mostly unrecognisable, remains of beetles. J
78 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Pardalotus melanocephalus. (M. 729; H. 312.) Black-licaded Pardalote.
(a) E'dsvold, Qiioensland.
Fragments of insects and spiders.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of bsetlcs, and a few larvic perhaps of Diptera.
(b) Edsvold, Queensland.
Fragments of insects; some brp-scabs (?).
(W.W.F.)— B3etle remains {Chrijsomdidcc).
(c) E dsvold, Queensland.
Fragments of insects; some white lerp-scal:s (:); several minute yellow-
seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Indefinite remains of small beetles.
(E.M.) — The seeds arc eggs of an insect about 1 mm. long.
(d) E dsvold, Queensland.
Part of a grub ; fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Chrysomel'd beetles {Cadmus and Crjjpfocephalus ; fam^
Chrysomelidce) ; moth caterpillar.
(e) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.)— Small chrysomel'd beetle ; a membracid and other Homoptera,
(f) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of beetle, but nothing definite.
(g) Eidsvold, Queensland.
Fragments of insects; skins of grubs (?) ; one small yellow seed.
(W.W^.F.) — A looper caterpillar; beetle- remains very indefinite.
(E.M.) — The seed is the egg of an insect 1 "5 mm. long, a white chitinous
case with a yellowish -green embryo vis'ble through it.
(h) Eidsvold; Queensland.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Insect remains— nothing definite' ; a few bits of beetles.
Melithreptus atricapillus. (M. 733; iH. 307.) Lunulated Honey-eater.
(a) Sydney, 24th July, 1909.
Wings, elytra, antcnnse, &c., of insects — many fragments.
(W.W.F.) — Thrips; remains of elytra of ground beetles.
(b) Sydney, 24th July.
Wings, antennae, and many insect remains ; a small fly.
(W.W.F.) — Some perfect specimens of thrips; Diptera, several species;-
beetles.
(c) Sydney, 4th November, 1911.
A few fragments of insects.
(d) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, 29th June, 1912.
Fragments of beetles and other insects (? a small cockroach).
(W.W.F.) — Numerous fragments of beetles, including part of a very small
weevil.
(e) iMilson Island.
Insect fragments, apparently of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Thrips sp., and Aphis sp. ; remains of small beetles.
Melithreptus gularis. (M. 737 ; iH. 310.) Black-chinned iHoney-eater.
Qaeensland.
Fragments of insects; portion of a grub (?).
(W.W.F.) — Beetle and dinterous remains.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 79
MelUkreptus hrevirostris. (M. 741 ; H. 313.) Short-billed Honey-eater.
(a) Sydney, 21st August, 1909.
A grub ; fragments of insects' bodies and wings.
(W.W.F.) — Larva of moth and remains of ground beetles.
(b) Sydney, 8th May, 1909.
(W.W.F.) — Jaws of spider; remains of beetle larvte.
.(c) 2nd April, 1909.
(W.W.F.) — Larva of lamellicorn beetle.
, (d) Sydney, 15th October, 1909.
A few insect remains; (?) part of a spider.
(W.W.F.)— Coleoptera.
<e) Middle Harbour, 28th March, 1910.
Several small grubs; remains of a small brownish spider with a numbar
of small white young ones.
'(W.W.F.) — Six spiders of different species — a number of small ones,
probably on the back of one of the adult spiders when eaten ; head of
a froghopper (Homoptera); a number of lepidopterous larvae of
various moths. This is, by the contents of its stomach, one of our
good insectivorous birds.
(f) Coonalpyn, South AustraUa.
Fragments of insects.
(W^.W.F.) — Remains of beetles and several small moth larv89.
(g) Mannum, South Australia, 26th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains— unrecognisable.
^h) Mannum, South AustraUa, 26th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — elytra of beetle,
(i) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, 16th June, 1912. ,
Fragments of insects; portions of green caterpillar; a smell of Euca-
lyptus in the stomach.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of PsyUidce; small beetle; moth caterpillar ; fly
maggot; remains of spider.
Melitkreptus affinis. (M. 7442.)
Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 25th November, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — elytra of beetles; otherwise unrecogni-
sable.
Plectrorhamphus lanceolatus. (M. 745; H. 316.) Striped Honey-eater,
"(a) Queensland.
A mass of vegetable hairs ; some fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small caterpillar,
(b) Queensland.
Three round black seeds.
(E.M.)— G^eyera. (See M. 7; H. 567.)
Myzomela nigra, Gould. (M. 748; H. 296.) Black Honey-eater.
Molong, N.S.W.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Coleoptera (Ar.thicus sp. [2]); hymen-
opterous remains.
AcanthorhyncJius tenuirostris. (M. 752; H. 299.) Spine-billed Honey-eater,
(a) Sydney, 8th May, 1909.
(W.W.F.j— Chiefly the remains of house flies (Musca domestica or Musca
corvina).
80 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15. ^
(b) Hawkesbury Eiver, December, 1909.
Small fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Many of the fragments are the bits of wing covers of small
homopterous insects — a few beetles and two ants.
(c) Mount Lofty, Adelaide, 17th May, 1910.
A few small fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Nothing definite in beetle remains.
(d) Hawkesbury Kiver, 3rd October, 1910.
A large hymenopterous insect.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly remains of dung beetles {Onthophagus sp.); also
remains of wasp (? Thynnus, flower-wasp).
Glycyphila melanops. (M. 756; H. 317.) Tawny-crowned Honey-eater.
(a) Middle Harbour, 9th April, 1910.
Two small Hymenoptera; remains of other insects.
(W.W.F.) — Two braconid wasps {Braconidce) and the remains of a number
of small flies (Diptera).
(b) Fledghng. Sydney, September, 1912.
Full of portions of insects.
(W.B.G.) — Fragments of integument of Hymenoptera — ^Aculeata, either
ant or sohtary wasp fragments.
Glycyphila albifrons, Gould. (M. 757; H. 318.) White-fronted Honey-
eater.
(a) Overland Corner, Murray Kiver, South AustraUa, 2nd December,
1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — elytra of beetles; heads of Hemiptera;
remains of ants.
(b) Overland Corner, Murray Eiver, South Austraha, 2nd December,
1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — mainly um'ecognisable ; Hemiptera heads*
Meliphaga phrygia. (M. 764 ; H. 327.) Warty-faced Honey-eater.
Hawkesbury Kiver, N.S.W., 3rd April, 1909.
Stomach full of elytra, legs, &c., of beetles.
Stigmatops ocularis. (M. 765 ; H. 320.) Brown Honey-eater.
Perth, September, 1909.
A few fragments of insects (wings, &c.).
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly remains of small Diptera ; a few fragments of beetles ;
small Homoptera.
Ptilotis fusca. (M. 769 ; H. 328.) . Fuscous^Honey-eater.
(a) Murray Flats.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Insect remains, wing of fly (Diptera).
(b) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Beetle and ant remains.
(c) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of very small Coleoptera.
(d) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.)— Kemains of ants and few beetles. . ,
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 81
(e) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c. ; a few (?) lerp scales.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ants and some wings of bees.
(f) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles; a few (?) lerp scales.
(W.W.F.) — Beetle remains more plentiful, also ant remains.
(g) Queensland.
Fragments of insects.
(h) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Small beetle and other ant remains ; wings of Neuroptera.
(i) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Beetle and ant remains.
(j) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly remains of small beetles.
(k) Queensland.
Fragments of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of beetles and flies.
(1) WelUngton, N.S.W., November, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains— fragments of insects, portions of chrysomelid
beetle,
(m) WelHngton, N.S.W., November, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — portions of beetles, otherwise unrecog-
nisable.
(n) Molong, N.S.W.
(E.AV.F.) — Insect remains — fragments of weevils {Curculmiidce).
Ptilotis chrusotis. (M. 770; H. 329.) Yellow-eared Honey-eater.
(a) Ourimbah, 18th November, 1911.
Stomach dyed purple ; small seeds (? fig) ; part of ladybird.
(W.W.F.) — Apparently portion of ladybird's (Leis) elytra.
(J.H.M.) — Rubus sp. ? (Rosacece), probably R. rosifoUus, a native rasp-
berry. •
(b) Sydney District.
One blue berry ; two Solanum nigrum fruits.
(J.H.M.) — ElcBGcarpus sp. {Tiliacece) seeds; Solanum nigrum, Linn.
(Solanacece).
(c) Hawkesbury River, New South Wales, 12th June, 1909.
A fleshy purple fruit.
(J.H.M.) — Fruit of Phytolacca decandra, Linn. (Red-ink Plant).
(d) Hawkesbury River, 20th December, 1909.
Some fragments of insects; a number of small kidney-shaped seeds,
sculptured with pits.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of Coleoptera. Are not the seeds those of trefoil
clover?
(e) Hawkesbury River, December, 1909.
Some fragments of insects; some small kidney-shaped seeds, reddish
brown, in a reddish brown matrix.
, (W.W.F.) — Remains of two spiders; several ants; the head and broken
elytra of small beetle.
8-i SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. L5.
(f) Hawkesbmy Elver, 6th April, 1910.
Stomach stained purple ; a number of large purplish seeds.
(J.H.M.) — Stephania hernandifolia {3Ienispermacece)^l failed to identify
the purple fruits which stained the stomach; amongst this fruit
was a single but unmistakable seed of Stephania hernandifolia, a
slender vine very common on sandy sea-coasts.
Ptilotis sonora. (M. 772; H. 334.) Singing Honey-eater.
(a) Tailem Bend, South Australia, May, 1910.
Numerous portions of ants and other insects ; two seeds surrounded by
w^hite fluffy " flesh " (on section, show green cotyledons).
(W.W.F.) — Ants chiefly; remains of several moths.
(J.H.M.) — Vegetable remains not recognisable.
(b) Murray Flats, near Blanchetown, South AustraUa, May, 1911.
Purphsh fruits of a saltbush (?), small black seeds and an oval yellow
larger one.
(E.M.) — Seeds of ^ocAm ; purphsh-coloured seeds are Enchylcena tomen-
tosa, K.Br. (N. 0. Chenopodiacece) — all saltbush with membrane in
various stages of preservation; large yellow one has most of
membrane present.
(c) Mannum, South Austraha, 26th November, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Grasshopper — jaws, wings, and legs; other
remains, hymenopterous and coleopterous. Seeds — Large, round
seeds, like Exocarpus.
(J.H.M.) — Exocarpus stricta, R.Br.
(d) Cobar, September, 1911.
A few fragments of insects' legs ; several large brownish seeds.
(J.H.M.) — Geijera parviflora, Lindl (?) (Rutacece),
Ftilotis chrysops. (M. 775; H. 336.) Yellow-faced Honey-eater.
(a) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, 29th June, 1912.
Fragments of beetles, &c. "*
(W.W.F.) — Fragments of Coleoptera.
(b) Sydney, 24th April, 1909.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of Diptera (one Culicidce, Cidex sp. ; on 3 Muscidw.)
(c) Sydney, 24th July, 1909.
A few fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of flies and beetles.
(d) Sydney, 3rd April, 1909.
Beetle bodies.
(e) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, 28th November, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Seeds — (1) Brownish, small, ovate; (2) yellow, minute, ovate;
(3) one black nitid seed.
(W.M.C.) — Seeds — (1) Not determined; (2) Physalis pemorana (Cape
gooseberry) ; (3) Phytolacca octandra (Ink berry).
(f) Kurrajong Heights.
Portions of beetles.
(W.B.G.) — Particles of small beetles and of a beetle larva.
(g) Hawkesbury River, 29th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Small Hymenoptera; otherwise unrecog-
nisable.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 85
Ptilotis flavicollis. (M. 776; H. 338.) Yellow-throated Honey-eater.
(a) Flinders Island, Bass Straits, 27th November, 1912.
Remains of elytra of beetles.
(W.B.G.) — Paropsis sp. {Chrysomelidce) ; fragment of small pupa
(probably moth) and a few other insect remains ; plant seeds.
(J.H.M.) — The seeds are of Leucopogon sp.
(b) FUnders Island, Bass Straits, 22nd November, 1912.
Full of fragments of insects.
• (W.B.G.) — Parts of a spider ; indeterminable fragments of insects.
Ptilotis leucotis. (M. 778 ; H. 339.) White-eared Honey-eater.
(a) Hawkesbury River, N.S.W., 12th June, 1909.
A beetle case ; some remains of other insects.
(W.W.F.) — Chrysomelid beetle; heads of small ants.
(b) Hawkesbury River, N.S.W., 26th October, 1909.
Fragments of beetles ; three eggs like ant eggs.
(W.W.F.)— Fragments of beetles.
(c) Middle ^arbour, 28th March, 1910.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of wing covers of small beetles, probably obtained in.
the flowers of the eucalypts — all the honey-eaters are known to-
feed upon the small insects they find when sucking up the honey
of the flowers, but are only insectivorous in a minor degree.
(d) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, 16th June, 1912.
Fragments of beetles and insects ; a number of small vegetable fibres.
(W.W.F.) — Legs of cercopid (froghopper) ; legs of native bee.
Ptilotis melanops. (M. 781; H. 342.) Yellow-tufted Honey-eater.
(a) Fragments of insects, chiefly beetles.
(W.W\F.) — Remains of Hymenoptera^
(b) Molong, N.S.W.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Eh'tra of beetles (Diphucephala sp.?); head
of weevil ( lAuletes).
(c) 4th April, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Unrecognisable.
(d) Hawkesbury River, N.S.W., 3rd April, 1909.
Beetles.
(e) Middle Harbour, 1st August, 1910.
Some minute fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Insect remains small and indefinite; only some wings of
aphids can be determined.
Ptilotis cratitia. (M. 783; H. 344.) Wattle-che3ked Honey-eater.
Coonalpyn, South Austraha.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Nearly all ant remains ; a number of winged forms.
Ptilotis ornata. (M. 786 ; H. 348.) Yellow-plumed Honey-eater.
(a) Mannum, South Australia, 26th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Unrecognisable.
(b) Blanchetown, South Austraha, 27th November, 1913.
(E.W.F. )^Insect remains — ^Unrecognisable fragments; legs of beetle.
(c) Alawoona, South Australia, December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Portions of small weevils.
84 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(d) Monarto South, South Australia, July, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Fragments of beetles ; portions of Hymenop-
tera.
Ptihtis plumula. (M. 787 ; H. 349.) Yellow-fronted (Plumed) Honey-eater.
Perth, September, 1909.
Some fragments of insects and case of small beetle.
(W.W.F.) — Also remains of spider.
Ptihtis penicillata. (M. 791 ; H. 346.) White-plumed Honey-eater.
(a) Murray Flats, S.A.
Minute fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Very minute insect fragments ; ants and Homoptera.
(b) Orange, N.S.W., 13th July, 1909.
Numerous fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Insects' remains ; nothing distinctive except fragments of
beetles.
(c) Near Morgan, South Austraha, 29th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains— Probably hymenopterous.
(d) Near Morgan, South Austraha, 29th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous insect remains, mostly unrecognisable; remains
of three wasps.
(e) Overland Corner, South Austraha, 2nd December, 1913. •
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Portion of weevil, heads of Hemiptera.
(f) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Small green shield plant bugs hke Cuspicona sp. ; a few ant
. and beetle remains.
(g) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Four specimens of Devil's Coach-horse beetles {Creophilus
erythi'ocephalus) ; three ants {Iridomyrmex gratiosa) ; remains of two
plant bugs; also beetles and ants.
Meliornis pyrrhoptera. (M. 797 ; H. 353.) Crescent Honey-eater.
(a) Mount Lofty, Adelaide, 17th May, 1910.
A few small fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Nothing definite; a few fragments of the wing covers of
beetles.
(b) Mount Lofty Kange, Adelaide, 23rd May, 1910.
A few small fragments- of insects ; some minute fragments of green vege-
table matter.
(W.W.F.)— Eemains of beetles.
(c) Adelaide, South Austraha.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly dipterous remains.
(d) Fhnders Island, Bass Straits, November, 1912.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains; umecognisable.
Meliornis mvoB-hollandioB. (M. 799 ; H. 354.) New Holland Honey-eater.
(a) Sydney, 24th April, 1909.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of two flies (Diptera)— appear to have been SyrpUdcB,
(b) Sydney, 2nd August, 1909.
Wings and part of body of large fiy (?) ; some other remains of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly remains of various species of flies.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. S5
(c) Hawkesbury Kiver, 20th November, 1909.
Small fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly remains of wings of small flies (Diptera) and small
ichneumon wasps ; a few elytra of beetles.
(d) Middle Harbour, 9th April, 1910.
An anthomyid fly; fragments of many other insects.
(W.W.F.) — An almost perfect specimen of small fly and wings of several
others.
(e) Middle Harbour, 16th July, 1910.
Portions of small gnats (?).
(W.W.F.) — Remains of very small flies (Diptera).
(f) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 1st August, 1910.
A small hymenopterous insect ; remains of other insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small flies (Diptera) ; wing covers of beetles.
(g) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 1st August, 1910.
Stomach full of minute fragments of insects, amongst them a small
hymenopterous insect.
(W.W.F.) — Nearly all the remains consist of small midges and mosquitoes.
(h) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 6th August, 1910.
A small gnat.
(W.W.F.) — All the insect remains indefinite, with the exception of a
bundle of legs of gnats,
(i) Mount Lofty Range, Adelaide, 23rd May, 1910.
Numerous portions of small beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Rem.ains of ants, and wing covers of beetles,
(j) Young bird, Coonalpyn, South Australia.
Minute fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Insect remains; nothing definite,
(k) Coonalpyn, South Austraha.
Portions of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Nearly all remains of white ants (Termitidce),
Meliornis sericea. (M. 801 ; H. 356.) White-cheeked Honey-eater.
(a) Sydney, 24th April, 1909.
(W.W.F.) — The remains of several flies (Diptera), much decomposed —
species appear to belong to family Musddoe.
(b) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 28th March, 1910.
Remains of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of wings of small flies (Diptera); a few bits of
beetle wings.
(c) Middle Harbour, 16th July, 1910.
Several flics (Diptera).
(W.W.F.) — Two small moths; remains of muscid flies.
Myzantlia garrula. (M. 804 ; H. 306.) Noisy Minah.
(a) Orange, N.S.W., 13th July, 1909.
A few fragments of insects (legs, elytra, &c.).
(W.W.F.) — Remains of beetles (Eeteromera, &c.).
(b) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Beetle elytra (Cardbidce) ; otherwise unrecog-
nisable,
(o) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Fragmentary, mostly unrecognisable, a few
fragments of beetle elytra.
86 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(d) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Head of ant; otherwise fragmentary and
unrecognisable.
(e) Giinnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — A few unrecognisable fragments.
(f) Upper Manilla, Saptember, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Mostly unrecognisable; portions of beetles
{Elateridce).
(g) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River.
Stomach full of insect fragments, chiefly beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of Hymenoptera; ants {FormicidcE); parasitic
wasps {BraconidcB) ; heads of scarabi^eid beetles,
(h) Eidsvold, Queensland, (Dr. Bancroft).
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small hcteromerous beetles, probably taken on
the foliage,
(i) Eidsvold (Dr. Bancroft).
A large grub ; fragments of beetles, &c.
(W.W.F.) — Same kind of beetle remains as in (h); also a few ground
beetles, and a large lepidopterous larva,
(j) Eidsvold (Dr. Bancroft).
Portions of insects ; fragments of a large beetle.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of small beetles; head and thorax of click beetle
(Monocrepidius sp.).
(k) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Clover seed (1); one small beetle; number of green shield
plant bugs {Cuspicona sp.).
(1) Canowindra, February, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Green plant bugs; t^vo small green caterpillars; a beetle
larva,
(m) Young bird. Swan Reach, Murray River, S.A., 27th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Mostly unrecognisable; hea,d of Hymen-
opteron.
(n) Belaringar, N.S.W., 14th April, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Insect fragments — Small ants ; pupa case of moth ; otherwise
unrecognisable. Seeds — A few small round reddish seeds.
(o) Belaringar, N.S.W., 14th April, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Large ant; elytron of beetle (Laiiis sp.
fam. Malacodermidce) ; otherwise fragments unrecognisable. Seeds —
Small round reddish seeds.
(p) Hawkesbury River, 29th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Small weevil (Crypiorrliyncliides) ; fragment*
of other beetles.
(q) Belaringar, N.S.W., 15th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous ants, apparently all of one species and including
winged forms.
(W.W.F.) — Almost all remains of ants Phcidole sp., including wing:d.
forms ; remains of a spider,
(r) Uralla, May- June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ants generally — Camponotus nigriceps, Polyrhachis
sp., Myrmecia sp. ; remains of Coleoptera ; heads of weevils; head
of Bernbex wasp.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 87
-(a) Uralla, May- June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of spiders generally; two small weevils (Ciircu-
lionidce); elytra of other small beetles; remains of ants. A small
seed,
(t) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ants and small beetles only.
Note. — The Soldier Bird is very common in the Uralla District, and usually
feeds among the leaves- and bark of the Eucalypts. It also does considerable
<lamage to fruit in the small orchard at Salisbury Court, and often came into
the tent and fed upon pieces of bread, meat, &c., which were thrown it. —
Blow-fly Investigations Camp, Uralla.
Myzantlia ilavigula. (M. 806; H. 3G1.) Yellow-throated Minah.
(a) Moree, 5th October, 1909.
Fragments of beetles and other insects ; remains of grubs ; several small
yellowish kidney-shaped seeds.
(W.W.F.) — (1) Crane fly ( ri'pwZtWcE-Diptera) ; (2) Remains of cutworms
{Agrotis sp.) ; (3) Beetles (Heteromera).
(b) Tarcoon, N.S.W., October, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Fragmentary; portions of beetles, otherwise
unrecognisable. ,
(c) Belaringar, N.S.W\, 14th April, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains — Hymenoptera — Small bee; small ants;
numerous specimens of a small wasp. Diptera — Bombylidce, one
specimen; MuscidcB, several specimens of a metallic green fly.
Coleoptera — One small beetle {Ghrysomelidce). Numerous small round
reddish seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Hymenoptera — ^Thirty specimens of a yellow ichneumon
(Braconidw) ; forty ants, Iridomyrmex {Formicidce) ; one bee,
Diptera — one Bombylid fly; eight muscid flies. Homoptera
— one psyllid larva. Coleoptera — one beetle, Cadiyius {ChrysomelidcB),
Broken fragments of insects, vegetable matter, and about fifty-
eight small round seeds.
td) Belaringar, N.S.AV., 15th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous ants, apparently all of one species, and including
winged forms.
(W.W.F.) — Almost all remains of ants, Pheidole sp., including winged
forms; elytra of small beetle (Curculionidce). Several small seeds.
Anthoclicera carumulata. (M. 808; H. 363.) Red- wattle Bird.
Jindabyne, N.S.W., 12th December, 1910.
Stomach full of metallic fragments of a beetle.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of Coleoptera, apparently wing cases of small
mctalLc lamell'corn on wattle trees {Difhucephala sp.).
Andlobia chrysoptera. (M. 810; H. 365.) Brush Wattle Bird.
Middle Harbour, 8th March, 1910.
Some fragments of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of heads and elytra of beetles; the fangs of several
spiders.
88 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15. :
Acanthochcera rufigularis. (M. 812; H. 367.) Spiny-cheeked Honey-eater.
(a) Cobar, September, 1911.
Fragments of insects ; about a dozen large brownish seeds.
(W.W.F.)— Undeterminable; head of Hymenopteron (?).
(b) Overland Corner, South Austraha, 2nd December, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Head (?Hymenopterous). Seeds — Moderate*
sized, round, brownish, hke Exocarpus.
(J.H.M.) — Exocarpus stricta, R.Br.
Entomyza cijanotis. (M. 813 ; H. 368.) Blue-faced Honey-eater.
(a) Queensland.
Chiefly fragments of fruit or seeds ; a few insect remains.
(E.M.) — Pieces of shell, effervesce with acid; wax, soluble in ether —
nothing else distinguishable.
(W.W.F.) — Lepidopterous larva ; remains of Diptera and beetle remains.
(b) Mannum, South AustraUa, 26th November, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Bones of small Hzard (^) — tibise, femora, and vertebrse. Insect
remains : Coleoptera — Prypnus sp. (Curculionida) ; Chalcopterus sp.
(TenehrionidcB) ; Phoracantha sp. {Ceramhycidce) ; mandibles of grass-
hopper (Orthoptera).
TropidorJiynchus corniculatus. (M. 816; H. 370.) Leatherhead.
(a) Gular, 30th October, 1911.
Portion of a grasshopper (?) and fragments of insects; one black seed.
(W.W.F.) — Two moths {Arctiidce ? ) ; winged ant {Dolichoderince) ; scraps
of a beetle; calhpers of an earwig.
(b) Hawkesbury River, N.S.W., 3rd April, 1909.
One dipterous insect ; seeds.
(c) Hawkesbury River, 29th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — A few fragments of insects ; head of ant.
Philemon citreogularis. (M. 819; H. 373.) Yellow-throated Friar Bird.
Eidsvold, Queensland.
Remains of insects; several rounded dark-brown seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Coleoptera remains; apparently ground beetles (lamelHcorn).
(EM.)—Geijera. (See M. 7 ; H. 567.)
Antlius australis. (M. 822; H. 390.) Ground Lark.
(a) Bathurst, January, 1910.
Fragments of beetles; wings, &c., of insects; a small grass seed.
(W.W.F.) — Ants {FormicidoB)', Heteromerous beetle; ladybird beetle
{Coccinella) ; small carab beetle ; msore ants than beetles.
(b) Summit of Mount Kosciusko, 10th December, 1910.
Fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ground-hunting spiders, with a few wing cases
of beetles.
uEgintha temporalis. (M. 838; H. 412.) Red-browed Finch.
(a) Narrabeen, 26th Ma^ich, 1910.
Small, oval, white seeds.
(b) Middle Harbour, Sydney, 9th April, 1910.
Fragments of small, white seeds. . ;
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 89
(c) Middle Harbour, Sydney,- 9th April, 1910.
Fragments of small, white seeds.
(d) and (e) Berry, 10th August, 1910.
A number of small, whitish seeds and minute orange or brown seeds.
(J.H.M.) — Three small kinds of seeds, probably all grasses; the narrow
seed is probably an £'ra^fos^ is, but I cannot give the genus of the
other two.
(f) and (g) Berry, 10th August, 1910.
A number of small seeds as in (d) and (e).
(J.H.M.) — The same three seeds as in (d) and (e) ; in addition, another
small, flat seed, which is not a grass, and belongs to the Dicotyledonese.
(h) Gosford, 24th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Crop contents : Small, oval, whitish and greenish seeds.
(W.M.C.) — The seeds are Panicum sp., and Panicum sanguitiale, L.
(Summer Grass).
(i) Gosford, 24th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Crop contents : Small, oval, whitish and greenish seeds ; a
larger brown seed ; small black seeds, one nitid, one rugulose.
(W.M.C.) — The seeds are Panicum sp., Panicum sanguinale, L. (Summer
Grass), Geranium sp., and black seeds not identified.
(j) Gosford, 24th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Crop contents : Small whitish seeds.
(W.M.C.) — ^The seeds are Payiicum si^., Panicum sanguinale, L. (Summer
Grass) and Panicum cru^galli (Ditch millet).
(k) Gosford, 24th May, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Crop contents : small whitish seeds.
(W.M.C.) — The seeds are Payiicum sp., and Panicum sanguinale, L,
(Summer Grass).
Oriolus Sagittarius. (M. 850 ; H. 62.) Oriole.
(a) Hawkesbury River, N.S.W., 3rd April, 1909.
Exocarpus (?) fruits; red seeds.
(b) Berry, 10th August, 1910.
A seed like a small date seed ; portions of large grub.
(W.W.F.) — Looper caterpillar (fam. GeometridoB) .
(J.H.M.) — Stone of the white cedar, Melia azedarach, Linn.
(c) Queensland.
A number of dark brown seeds.
('E,M.)—Geijera. (See M. 7; H. 567.)
(d) Queensland.
Several oval black seeds ; several white cedar fruits.
(EM.)—Geijera. (SeeM. 7; H. 567.) Melia azedarach, Liim.
(e) Queensland.
Some purphsh tinted fruit with an elongated brown seed.
(E.M.)-(?)
(f) Queensland.
Many oval, black seeds.
(EM.)—Geijera. (SeeM. 7; H. 567.)
90 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(g) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Minute, round, black seeds ; an ant; remains of a grub (?).
(W.W.F.) — Lepidopteious larva, cutworm; other caterpillars; an ant;
beetle remains.
(J.H.M.) — Seeds of an Amaranthus, probably A. viridis, Linn.
SpJiecotheres maxillaris. (M. 852; H. 62.) Fig Bird.
Queensland.
About eight fruits of white cedar.
(E.M.) — Melia azedarach, Linn.
Chibia hracteata. (M. 854; H. 66.) Drongo.
(a) Numerous large fragments of insects.
(W.W.F.) — Wings of Orthoptera (grasshopper) ; heads of longicorn beetle ;
other beetle remains.
(b) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Several crickets (?).
(W.W.F.) — This bottle was broken, but wrapped up I found no crickets,
but in the remains are some nearly perfect specimens of our large
paper-nest wasp {PolisVes tasmaniensis).
jElurcedus 7naculosus. (M. 860; H. 165.) Spotted Cat-bird.
Pascoe River, N.Q., 7th August, 1913.
Seeds— Large, kidney-shaped, brown, smooth.
(J.H.M.) — Sideroxylon sp.
CJdamydodera maculaia. (M. 861 ; H. 167.) Spotted Bower-bird.
(a) Queensland'.
Many black seeds ; some legs of insects.
(E.M.)— to^em. (See M. 7; H. 567.)
(b) Queensland.
Three white cedar berries.
(E.M.) — Melia azedarach, Linn. ; some fragments of insect wings.
(c) Queensland.
Four white cedar berries ; one orange fruit.
(E.M.) — White cedar, Melia azedarach, Linn.
(d) Queensland.
Two white cedar berries.
(E.M.) — Melia azedarach, Linn.
(e) Queensland.
Four white cedar berries.
(E.M.) — Melia azedarach, Linn.
Craspedophora alberti. (M. 870; H. 58.) Albert Rifle-bird.
(a) Claudie River, N.Q., 8th October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Elytra of heteromerous beetle (Clalcoptcrus
sp.). Seeds — one large oval flattened black seed.
(b) Claudie River, N.Q., 9th October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Four large ovate stones or seeds.
(c) Claudie River, N.Q., 20th October, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Large orange-coloured mass in three parts (? fruit); vege-
table cells seen under microscope.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 91^
Corvus coronoides. (M. 872; H. 44.) Crow.
{a) Rowena, near Collarenebri, N.S.W., November, 1910.
A number of maggots, with remains of dead sheep.
(W.W.F.) — Maggots of Calliphora rufifacies — one of the blow-f]ies that
infest wool; beetles and ants.
(b) Jindabyne, N.S.W., 12th December, 1910.
Stomach full of comminuted fragments of grasshoppers.
(W.W.F.) — Tail-bones of a lamb; beetle remains; remains of locugts
(grasshoppers).
(c) Jindabyne, N.S.W., 12th December, 1910.
Stomach crammed full of maroon-coloured fragments of grasshoppers.
(W.W.F.) — Apparently this bird has been feeding on locusts (grass-
hoppers) ; hardly any other food.
(d) Pascoe R'ver, N.Q., 7th August, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Masses of ant remains, a yellow-coloured species with large
jaws.
(e) Pascoe River, N.Q., 8th August, 1913.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains: Grasshopper.
(f) Upper Manilla, Septembor, 1913c
(E.W.F.) — Dark mass ( ?carr:on) ; larval skins ; pupa cases (Lepidoptera) ;
Hymenoptera, wingless species.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms, and a number of moth pupae.
(g) Moree, N.S.W., October, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Vegetable fragments; fibres apparently of vegetable origin;
pieces of twigs ; grass stems; burrs (? clover); larvae (?Lepidoptera).
(W.M.C.) — Burrs and seeds of Medicago derdiculata (common trefoil),
(h) Moree, N.S.W., October, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Stomach filled with whitish granular masses, with hard
chitinous fragments, apparently of a small crustacean.
(i) Merah North, October, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Large mass of meat, which appears to have been cooked,
(i) Mcrah North, October, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Stomach contents few, chiefly an amorphous granulat
material; a few insect remains (beetles).
<k) Yanco, 19th December, 1914.
(E.W.F.)— Wheat and oat grains.
(1) Walgett, September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Chitinous fragments of legs (? of grasshopper); remains of
black pupa case. Fibrous material (? grass).
(W.W.F.) — Elytra of small plant bug; remains of a small moth pupa;
vegetable matter and remains of an egg.
(m) Walgett, September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Carrion (? decomposing meat); remains of grasshoppers,
(W.W.F.) — Grasshoppers.
(n) Tarcoon, October, 1914.
(E.W.F. — Wheat grains, almost filhng stomach ; portion of bones ; larva
(? Lepidoptera); leg of beetle.
92 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(o) Tarcoon, 23rd October, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Large mass composed of fibres of wool; a few twigs; portion
of tissue of animal origin, probably portion of carrion.
(p) Coonabarabran, 29tli September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Vegetable shreds (?). Insect remains: Talaurirms sp.
(Amycterides) — beetle .
(q) Belaringar, N.S.W., 20tli March, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Grasshopper ; beetles — Talaurinus sp.
{Amycterides); larvse. Seeds: Burrs. Small bones.
(W.W.F.) — All that we received ^\ere the pupal cases of muscid flies,
which were apparently dry and empty when eaten by the birds;
remains of a grasshopper.
(r) Belaringar, N.S.W., 3rd June, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Mainly carrion, with a few small bones. Pupal cases of
muscid fly, and a few remains of ants.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of a small ant Uke Ectatomma; parts of pupal
cases of blowfly CallifJiora sp. ; remains of a centipede.
(s) Belaringar, N.S.W., 3rd June, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Mainly carrion, with a few fragments of bones. Remains
of ants. Small yellow seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of ants, Pheidole sp., only.
(J.H.M.) — The seeds are those of Airiflex semibaccatiim, R.Br. (Salt-
bash).
(t) Belaringar, N.S.W., 3rd June, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Mainly carrion. Larval heads; larval skin; small beetle.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of centipede; jaws and heads of beetle grubs;
elytra of small weevil {Curculionidce).
Skepera versicolor. (M. 878 ; H. 49.) Grey Crow-Shrike.
Slopes of Mount Kosciusko, 12th December, 1910.
Metallic fragments of a large beetle.
(W.W.F.) — The remains of our Golden Stag Beetle {Lamprima latrellei) —
it has evidently made its breakfast of these large and very hard-
bodied beetles.
Skuthidea cinerea. (M. 882 ; H. 53.) Grey Jumper (Happy Family).
(a) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Small smooth oval yellow seeds ; smaller ribbed oval yellow seeds ; some
small pieces of red gravel ; fragments of an insect.
(W.W.F.) — I would not expect to find many insect remains in the
, stomachs of these birds— probably the insects are accidentally, picked
- up.
(J.H.M.) — Two species of Panicum ; the ribbed one is probably a Setaria,
\h) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
One moderate-sized oval yellow seed; small smooth oval yellow seeds;
smaller ribbed oval yellow seeds; small oval brown seeds; some
. small pieces of red gravel.
(J.H.M.) — Grass seeds only — two species of Panicum; one Setaria (oi
perhaps also a Panicum) ; a single seed of Stenotaphrum americanum
1 (buffalo grass) ; only one seed found is not a grass, and this belongs
probably to the Cyperacece. . .
THE FOOD OF AUSTKALIAN BIRDS. 9^
(c) Eidsvold, Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Same contents as in (b), with the addition of a few minute comminuted
fragments of insects.
(J.H.M.) — The same Panicum and Setaria seeds as in (a) and (b), and
some small seeds I cannot identify.
(d) Eidsvoldj Queensland (Dr. Bancroft).
Small smooth oval yellow seeds ; smaller ribbed oval yellow seeds ; some
small pieces of red gravel; a few minute comminuted fragment*
of insects.
(J.H.M.) — Pa7iicum and Setaria seeds.
(e) Gunnedah, N.S.W.
A number of minute round black seeds, several larger oval yellow ones,
and one kidney-shaped brown one ; some vegetable fragments and
a few fragments of insects (?) ; grains of red sand.
(J.H.M.) — The oval yellow seeds are. Melilotus,. i^ioheibly M. 'parvifiora^
Desf . (Hexham Scent) ; the numerous small dark seeds are probably
a Chenopodiwn, or at least belong to the Chenopodiaccce.
. (f) Gunnedah, N.S.W.
A number of slightly elongated wheat grains; vegetable fragments;
one small heart-shaped seed, and several small cylindrical reddish
orange ones; a few minute yellow seeds, and a few black ones;
grains of red sand.
(J.H.M.) — Common wheat grains; numerous grass seeds of a species
of Pamcwm, and the same dark seeds of a (?) Chenopodium iound
in (e). I do not recognise the reddish cylindrical seeds.
(g) Gunnedah, N.S.W.
The same contents as in (f), with the addition of a number of orange-
coloured seeds.
(J.H.M.) — The wheat and Panicum seeds as in (f), and the same dark
doubtful Chenopodium seeds.
'(h) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous fragments of insects, unrecognisable. Seeds —
(1) moderately large ovate yellow; (2) small brownish, oval, pointed
at each end.
(W.M.C.) — (1) Gucumus myriocarpus (Wild Melon); (2) Scirpus sp.;
(3) Setaria viridis (Pigeon Grass).
(i) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Fragments of beetles, otherwise unrecog-
nisable. Seeds — moderately large, oblongate, brownish.
(W.M.C.)— (1) Not determined; (2) Rumex sp. (Doch.).
(j) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Mostly shell grit and unrecognisable fragments of insects,
(k) Coonabarabran, 29th September, 1914.
. (E.W.F.) — A few fragments of insects. Seeds — (1) medium size, narrow,
elongate; (2) small, narrow, elliptical; (3) small, red, with three
ridges.
<l) Belaringar, N;S.W., 14th April, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Seeds — (1) wheat grains; (2) elongate brownish seeds;
(3) minute round black seeds.
54 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Corcorax 7nelanorhmy^i}ius . (M. 883 ; H. 54.) AVhite-winged Chough.
(a) Milson Island, Hawkesbury River.
About two dozen small oval brown seeds.
(J.H.M.) — Seeds of Gahnia psittacorum, Labill. {Cyperacece).
(b) Berry, N.S.W., 21st May, 1909.
When shot, discharged a carnation-coloured fluid from anus and mouth,
and the abdominal organs were similarly deeply-tinted; this was
due to the bird feeding on the fruit of the Red-ink Plant (Phytolacca
decandra, Linn.).
(W.W.F.) — A cutworm {Agrotis sp.) ; beetles {Paropsis) and other beetle
remains ; a quantity of black seeds.
(c) Queensland.
A large beetle; many other fragments of insects. Seeds — (1) Small
yellowish; (2) large oval brown.
(E.M.) — (1) Two Setaria glauca; the rest a mixture of grains free from
the glumes, and some with glumes which appear to be a species of
Panicum; (2) ?
(W.W.F.) — Locusts (grasshoppers) ; Heteromera (ground beetles) ; spiders.
(d) Portions of large insects — (?) cockroaches; a number of grass seeds.
(W.W.F.) — Large quantity of seeds; remains of heteromerous beetles;
two bits of skin-hke material — not caterpillars.
(E.M.) — Seeds either Graminece or Cyperacece.
<e) Belaringar, Nevertire, N.S.W., 15th May, 1914.
Birds (e) to (i) shot feeding on stack, adjacent to wheat field, the wheat
being about 3 to 6 inches above ground.
(E.W.F.) — Quartz pebbles; wheat grains. Insect remains : Heads of
weevils [Brachyderides ? and Aterpides ?).
<f) Belaringar, Nevertire, N.S.W., 15th May, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Quartz pebbles ; wheat grains. Insect remains : Coleoptera— -
portions of beetles, elytra of harpalid, head of weevij ; heads of ants.
(g) Belaringar, Nevertire, N.S.W., 15th May, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Quartz pebbles ; wheat grains. Insect remains : Coleoptera—
head and elytra of harpahd {Carabidce) ; portion of Formicomus sp.
{Anthicidce) ; remains of weevil {Ethemaia sp. — Aterpides)) other
beetle remains.
(h) Belaringar, Nevertire, N.S.W., 15th May, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Quartz pebbles ; wheat grains. Insect remains : Coleoptera — ■
remains of beetles, portions of weevils [Brachyderides'^. and Ater^
pides'i). Seeds — Roughly pentagonal dark seeds, with rugose
capsules.
(J.H.M.) — Enchylcena tomentosa, R.Br.
(i) Belaringar, Nevertire, N.S.W., 15th May, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Quartz pebbles ; wheat grains. Insect remains : Coleoptera — •
amycterid weevil {Buharis piibescens) ; portion of chrysomelid.
Seeds — One burst capsule similar to (h).
(j) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains: Beetles (Carenum sp. ; TenebrionidcBl
ElateridcB ; CurculionidcB) ; Orthoptera ; larval skins.
(W.W.F.) — Caterpillars of small moth.
,THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. ^5
(k) Gimnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914. "^
(E.W.F.) — Earwig {Forficulidce) ; beetles (Coleoptera) ; weevils
[Talaurinus alaticornis and Mandalotus sp.) ; dung beetles {Ortlio-
phagus sp. — Scarab ceidce).
(1) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914.
(E. W.F.J — Coleoptera — weevils {Amycterides-Talaurinus alaticornis^
numerous specimens ; CrytorrJiynchidcs).
(m) Coonabarabran, 29th September, 1914,
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Coleoptera (beetles) — Carenum sp. {Cara-
bidcB); clicks (Elateridce) ; weevils, Amorjilwrrhinus and Cuhicor-
rhynchus {Amycterides). Larvae.
(W.W.F.) — Quantity of remains of small beetles, carabs and lieter jmera.
(n) Tarcoon, 23rd October, 1914.
(W.W.F.) — Stomach almost empty — a few insect remains (beetles, head
of ant); some seeds (?), empty ; grit,
(o) Belaringar (Nevcrtire), N.S.W., 14th April, 1915.
(E.W.F.) — Numerous elongate brownish seeds; some still contained ia
a black shell. Unrecognisable fragments of insects.
Introduced Birds.
Passer domesticus. Sparrow.
(a) Richmond, New South Wales.
About a dozen very small black seeds; part of a maize {"t) seed; frag-
ments of other grains ; no insect remains.
( J.H.M.) — Seeds of a plant belonging to Amarantacece — probably a species
of Amarantus.
(b) Richmond, New South Wales.
Fragments of grain.
(c) Adelaide, 14th May, 1910.
Several small white seeds.
(J.H.M.) — This seed seems to be identical with Eragrostis, found in
Sericornis maculata (M. 586), Port Adelaide, but is more digested.
(d) Adelaide, 14th May, 1910.
A few fragments of grain, and a number of small pieces of quartz, &c. ;
gravel.
Sturnus vulgaris. Starling.
(a) Berry, New South Wales, 21st May, 1909.
(W.W.F.) — Remains of one earwig {ForficididcB) ; one spider; two flies.
(Diptera) ; and one beetle (ChrysomelidcE).
(b) Wagga Experiment Farm.
(E.W.F.) — Long larval skins, hke worms; segments of milliped.
(W.W.F.)— Cutworms.
(c) Wagga Experiment Farm.
(E.W.F.) — Long larval skins, like worms; portions of milhped; remains
of beetles {Elateridw and Carahidce).
(W.W.F.) — Small cutworms; fragments of hard caterpillars or millipcds;
wings of beetle.
(d) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Worm-like larvae ; remains of milliped ; beetle (ElaieridcB),
(W.W.F.) — Small cutworms ; broken chitin ; small caterpillars.
96 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(e) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Larvae ; elaterid remnants.
(W.W.F.)— Small cutworms.
.(f) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Larvse ; beetles ; weevil {Ethemaia sellata) ; ant.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworm caterpillars {Agrotis sp.); smaller caterpillars.
^g) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Larvae; remnants of beetles; fragments of eggshells ; pieces
of bone.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms; slender caterpillars and remains of an egg.
^h) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.)— Larvfe.
(W.W.F.)^Cutworm caterpillars {Agrotis sp.)
{i) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Larvae; remnants of beetles ; remains of mi Hi ped.
(W.W.F.)— Small cutworms.
{]) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Larvae; remains of beetle {Promecoderus sp.).
(W.W.F.) — Cutworm caterpillars (Agrotis sp.); two heads of green
carabs.
(k) Wagga Experiment. Farm, August, 1914,
(E.W.F.)— Larv«.
^1) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Larvae; remains of Hemiptera.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms; slender caterpillars.
^m) Wagga Experiment Farm, August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Larval fragments.
. (W.W.F.) — Remains of small moths.
(n) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Thick larvae ; some thin larval skins.
(W.W.F.)— Cutworms.
(o) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Thick larvae and thin larval skins ; Hemiptera heads ; remaini
of moth.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms; remains of moth (Agrotis sp.J.
(p) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Thick larvae and thin larval skins ; remains of carab (Proifie-
codenis sp.).
(W.W.F.)— Cutworms.
(q) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Thick larvae and thin larval skins ; remains of weevil.
(W.W.F.)— Cutworms.
(r) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicicitv of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914
■ (E.W.F.)— Thick larvae.
(W.W.F.)— Cutworms.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 97
(s) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19tli August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Nil, except a long thin filament (? vegetable).
( W.W.F.) — Vegetable matter ; portion of moth wing.
(t) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Larval remains; thick larvae and thin; other insect frag-
ments— Coleoptera and Hemiptera.
(W.W.F.)— Cutworms.
(u) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914-
(E.W.F.) — Numerous small whitish chitinous heads, probably of termites ;
remains of ant ; remains of beetle.
(W.W.F.) — Much digested — ^great number of heads of small caterpillars.
(v) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914.
(E.W.F.)— Thick larvae.
(W.W.F) — Cutworms ; vegetable matter ; elytra of small ground
beetle.
^w) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Thick larvae; thin larval skins.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms ; several small moths.
{x) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914
(E.W.F.)— Thick larva?.
(W.W.F.)— Cutworms.
(y) Wagga Experiment Farm (vicinity of poultry yards), 19th August, 1914,
(E.W.F.) — Remains of beetles (CaraUdce).
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms ; remains of carab beetle.
(z) Wagga Experiment Farm, 5th September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Thick larval skins {Lepidoptera) ; weevil (Cuhicoirhynchvs ?
maculatus- Amy derides).
(W.W.F.)— Cutworms.
l(aa) Wagga Experiment Farm (eastern end No. 2 grazing paddock), 5th
September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Thin long larval skins; remains of ants; elytra of beetles.
(W.W.F.) — Cutworms ; remains of winged ants.
(ab) Cooma, September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Fragments of insects, including portions of elytra of tene*
brionid beetle {Chalcopterus sp.).
(ac) Cooma, 16th September, 1914.
(E.W.F.) — Fragments of insects; portion of tenebrionid beetle {CkaU
copterus sp.).
(ad) — Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.)— -Four small locusts (grasshoppers); six small caterpillars;
wing case of heteromerous beetle; jaws of mole cricket; a green
grasshopper.
(ae) Salisbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — One grain of wheat ; remains of small ground beetles (Oara^
bidce and Heteromera) ; two small grass caterpillars.
t 34r91-D
98 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
(af) — Salisbury Court, Uralla, 9tli February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Among the remains a number of small ground beetles : one
carab and six Heteromera.
(ag) — Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.)— Similar to stomach of (af).
(ah) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of seven locusts (grasshoppers) ; a few particles of
beetle,
(ai) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Grain of ^yheat ; one weevil and some remains of Heteromera*
(aj) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of small ground beetles — chiefly Heteromera and
Carabidse.
(ak) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Insect remains : Chiefly Coleoptera; remains of weevil; and
of a ground spider.
(al) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of Coleoptera; Heteromera, weevil and carabs.
(am) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 9th February, 1914 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of seven locusts (grasshoppers).
(an) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 13th March, 1915 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Small ground Coleoptera (Heteromera and Carabidce).
(ao) Salisbury Court, Uralla, 13th March, 1915 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of two ground spiders; four Heteromera; a few
other beetle remsCins ; bit of leaf.
(ap) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 13th March, 1915 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Kemains of small ground Coleoptera (Heteromera and
Carabidce).
(aq) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 13th March, 1915 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Carab and heteromerous beetle, nearly perfect ; one spider ;
remains of another spider ; wing of grasshopper ; remains of cricket,
(ar) Sahsbury Court, Uralla, 13th March, 1915 (shot in morning).
(W.W.F.) — Large quantity of remains of small ground beetles (Hetero-
mera and Carabidce) ; remains of ants; silver-fish; bit of grass,
(as) Canowindra, February, 1914.
(W.W.F.) — Chiefly remains of green plant bugs (Cuspicona sp.); a
few beetle wings ; heads of ants.
(at) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914 (juvenile).
(E.W.F.) — Numerous insect fragments ; portions of beetle elytra ; other-
wise unrecognisable,
(au) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914 (juvenile).
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains, chiefly coleopterous — fragments of tene-
brionid beetles (C/^aifco^^ems sp.).
(av) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914 (juvenile).
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains, chiefly coleopterous {Tembrionidce) ; ants
(Ectatomma).
*.<aw) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914 (juvenile).
(E.W.F.) — Insect remains : Coleoptera ; larva.
(W.W.F.)— Small lepidopterous larvae and pea-grubs.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 99
(ax) Gunnedah, N.S.W., September, 1914 (juvenile).
(E.W.F.)^Insect remains : Chiefly coleopterous fragments,
(ay) Uralla, May-June, 1915.
(W.W.F.) — Large quantity of green clover; fourteen whole grains of
wheat and partly digested remains of others; remains of young
wheat. Several heads of weevils.
Fringella chloris. Greenfinch.
Narrabeen, New South Wales, 26th March, 1910.
Some small seeds of two kinds ; some remains of black seeds.
ReptiUa.
Amphibolurus harhatus. Frill Lizard.
Emmaville.
Large portions of hairy grubs, beetles, &c. ; part of a centipede (Australian
Museum — Scoloperdra morsitans); a grass-seed, a triangular seed,
some fragments (?) seeds, and two small leaves.
(E.M.) — " Grass-seed." — ^This is not grass-seed, but the calyx with stem
and ovary and part of style of a flower, which appears to be one of
the LoheliacecB. The two leaves and seed I cannot identify.
Varanus varim. Monitor " Goanna."
Dubbo, September, 1911.
Numerous cockroaches ; mass of rabbits' hairs (microscopically identified).
(W.W.F.) — Fragments of cockroaches ; several pupae of Cyclorrhaphoua.
Diptera.
Lygosoma {Leiolepisma) entrecasteauxii. Skink.
FHnders Island, Bass Straits, 21st November, 1912.
A grub; a chrysaHs; part of a spider (?) ; insects' remains (1).
(W.B.G.)— Wireworm larva (Elateridce) \ moth pupa; two small species
of spiders.
Amphibians,
Hyla eiviJigii, D. & B. Frog.
FHnders Island, Bass Straits, 22nd November, 1912.
Several large beetles.
(W.B.G.) — Fragments of beetles, including Perperus sp. {GurculionidcBl
and black Adelium sp. (Tenehrionidce).
100
SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
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108 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
Notes to the Bird Food List.
Numbers 490, 509, 621, 679, 680 were obtained at Coolabah in Western
New South Wales ; Turtur ferrago at Sydney. All the other birds examined
were obtained around Richmond.
It is to be understood that the indications as to nature of the food refer
to such whole insects or portions of insects (or such plant food articles) as
to which the family, genus, or other classificatory group name could be
positively identified. Where there was any doubt, such is stated.
The bird numbers given in the preceding table are in accordance with a
Hand-list of the Birds of Austraha — Gregory M. Mathews — in supplement
to "The Emu," Vol. XIT, January, 1913.
The figures at the left of the following notes correspond with those in the
body of the preceding table. — C.T.M.
1. Millet; also vegetable matter. _ _
2. Summer grass seed plentiful {Panicum sanguinale), also Solanum nigrum (black potato)^
3. P. sanxjuinah, 8. nigrum, and Portulaca oleracea, with other vegetable matter.
4. Army worm larvae,
5. Four birds examined. Contents entirely grass and weed seeds.
6. Seeds of chickweed, fruits of buttercup, with other vegetable matter. - —
7. A longhorn.
8. Clover seeds, and green vegetable matter.
9. Rutherglen bug [Nysius vinitor), with fragments of other insects.
10. Twenty-eight grains wheat in crop ; seven in stomach.
11. Setaria glauca, Panicum sanguinale, and a black seed.
12. Same as 11, with Polygonum aviculare added. ~~
13. Two kinds grass seed and two kinds legumes.
14. Very varied seeds, grass, legumes, and oat.
15. Casuarina glauca. Euphorbia pephis, Setaria glauca, and another grass ; an amarantus.
16. Approximately 70 seeds Panicum crus-galli, 100 P. sanguinale, 150 Portulaca oleracea;
small gravel.
17. Approximately 4,000 seeds in crop: summer grass chiefly, also chickweed and a
trefoil.
18. Approximately 500 summer grass seeds (P. sanguinale), 2,000 pigface {Portulaca
oleracea), a few fat hen {Chenopodium).
19. Five grammes seed, 7,230 summer grass, 4,480 pigface, 8 fat hen.
20. Grass, wattle, and other legumes.
21. Dytiscus and scarabs.
22. A Calosoma.
23. Scarabs.
24. Cutworm larvae, and some pink larvae.
25. Fragments of vegetable matter, and gravel.
26. Water plants, Nitella chiefly, and gravel.
27. Water beetles ; a considerable quantity.
28. Water bugs ; a considerable quantity.
29. Unio, the fresh-water mussel.
30. Seeds of Panicum crus-galli (a water grass).
31. Weevils and scarabs.
32. Water beetles.
33. Dragon fly larvae.
34. Dragon fly larvae.
35. Fragments of Confervce.
36. Corbicula (a river bivalve), with fragmentary vegetable matter.
37. Frogs.
38. Weevils.
39. Bones and feathers of birds, evidently all pig; on.
40. Bones and feathers of four sparrows.
41. Two mice in crop, three in stomach.
42. Stomach full of mice.
43. 'Five mice in stomach.
44. Four mice in stomach.
45. Two mice and a lizard.
46. Stomach full, measured 2A x If x 1 inch. Contained brown feathers, &c., probably
sparrow.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 109
47. Three different species.
48. Remains of mice.
49. Large quantity.
50. Large quantity fragmentary insects, most'y beetles.
-51. Remains of mice.
^2. Wattle {Acacia decurrens and elata, divestc d of seed coats), hundrc cIs of c ucalyptus seed.
53. As 52. About lia'f of each kind of seed.
-54, 15 c.c. of seed. Grass mainly; a few legumes, and what appear to be tea -tree seed
{Leptospermum).
55. Large quantity of seed, apparently tea-tree, as 54.
56. Crop very full ; much distended with seed, chiefly grass.
57. A lamellicorn.
58. Maize. Vegetable tissue and grass also present, with a little black carbonaceous
matter.
59. 8-08 grammes cracked maize.
•60. 4-09 grammes of an unknown seed.
61. Crop full of seed ; some disintegrated vegetable matter.
Q2. Gravel, charcoal, fragmentary vegetable matter, wattle and ccvcral other kinds of
seed.
63. In crop a considerable number of pupa cases, almost certainly Dipiera, possibly
blow-flies.
64. Gravel and various seeds unknown.
65. An example of Helix jervisensis with animal still in shell; fragments of a second.
Vegetable matter and soil.
66. Great e[uantity of scarabs.
67. Two centipedes.
68. A Paropsis and a longicorn rccogniseel. Stomach much elisteneleel with insect food,
69. Calosoina schayeri.
70. Army -worm moth.
71. Anapdognathus (cockchafer).
72. Thyimus, Bembex.
73. Buprestids.
74. Three large cockchafer larva>. Unrecognisable animal matter and two hard balls
covered with furry matter.
75. A wooel bug, much animal matter, sand, soil.
76. Included weevi's and scarabs.
77. A wattle twig, and twigs of a herbaceous plant.
78. Three centipedes.
79. Rutilia (large blue -black fly).
80. Dragon flies.
80i. Five bees.
81." Bees.
82. Sixteen bees.
83. Anaplognathus (cockchafer).
83 1. Five noctuids.
84. Also a small egg cocoon with eggs (unknown).
So. LarvsD of grape vine moth.
86. Larvae of Doratifera.
81. Ten Doratifera larvae (cup moth).
88. One julus (millipede).
89. 35 cutworm larvae, one hairy larva (unknown), 1 vine moth larva.
90. 25 hairy larvae (jierhaps Teara).
91. 15 spiny larvae, green with red markings.
92. Pterygophilus cinctus.
93. 20 heads of a white spotteel larva.
94. Several larva? like cutworms, but reddish in colour.
95. Larvae of Doratifera.
96. Hairy larvae (like Teara), with a number of yellow egga.
97. Five Doratifera (cup moth).
98. Ten Doratifera.
99. Entirely house flies. Bird caught in class room.
100. One grass seed.
101. And uneletermined insects; some probab'y hemiptera,
102. Large quantity.
103. Including weevi's, and a chrysomelid larva — possibly the wattle beetle.
104. Many fragments of insects and some eggs.
105. A Hemerobius wing and some eggs.
110 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15/
106. Included a chrysomelid and a small scarab.
107. Included a Tipula.
108. A leaf hopper. Fruit skin present (probably grape).
109. Green lace wing fly {Chrysopa).
110. Five larvae of Doratifera; some small stones.
111. Aparopsis; weevils; a spotted chrysomelid ; animal matter (muscle and fat).
112. One bagworm in its silky bag, and several larvae of same.
113. Four black-spotted larvae, one pinkish larva. Animal matter (muscle and fat ,
114. Two species cockchafer (Anaplognathtis).
116. Grape seeds.
116. Stomach ful). Three species scarabs recognisable.
117. Chiefly scarabs.
118. Twelve cutworm larvae.
119. Cutworm larvae.
120. Cutworm larvae.
121. An ichneumon ; a number of oval insect eggs.
122. Twenty heads of cutworm larvae, and four " looper " larvae.
123. Numerous and varied insects, but very fragmentary.
124. Wattle, some other legumes, and other seed unrecognised.
125. A Doratifera larva, and eggs of insects.
126. Seeds of native currant and of native grasses.
127. Larvae of cabbage moth.
128. Included a cockchafer larva and wireworm larvae.
129. Large quantity fragmentary remains; also insect eggs.
130. And a hymenopterous wing, probably a braconid.
131. Chalcid flies.
132. Chrysopa larva, and some insect eggs.
133. A weevil.
134. Eggs of lace wing fly, on their flexible stalks.
135. Very fragmentary,
136. Chenopodiuni seeds.
137. Carabs and weevils.
138. Cutworm and bag-moth larvae.
139. Six green larvae, possibly cabbage moth.
140. A chrysomelid.
141. Eiaters, &c., remains very fragmentary.
142. Four cutworm larvae.
143. Weevils.
144. Cutworm larvae.
144^. Six larvae.
145. Seen in the act, taking a Danais.
146. Weevils and scarabs.
147. Doratifera larvae.
148. A weevil and a longicorn.
149. Doratifera (larvae) and others. Stomach very full.
150. Scarabs chiefly.
151. A considerable quantity of maize seed, just germinating.
152. Cockchafer larvae.
153. Earthworms.
154. A mole cricket.
155. Scarabs, an elater, a weevil.
156. Four earthworms.
157. Little grass.
158. Eight hawk moth larvae, black and yellow.
159. Large quantity (99 per cent, of contents) of soldier ants. One pair jaws fixed to
skin of throat.
160. Scarabs.
161. Scarabs.
1 62. Like red scale. Possibly the scale on Carob bean in college garden.
163. A wood bug.
164. Weevils.
165. Flower buds.
166. Including soldier ants.
167. One elater whole, a scarab, and quantity fragmentary insect remains.
168. Four examples under this ntimber all contained the same kinds of insects.
169. Larvae of cabbage moth. <
170. Aphides from sorghum.
THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN^ BIRDS. Ill
171. Remains of small insects and fruit flesh.
172. Remains of fruit flesh the only food present.
173. Fruit flesh (probably fig).
174. Number of young black scale, and other fragmentary insect remains.
175. And fragmentary insect remains.
176. Flowers, seeds and flesh of fig.
177. Syrphid flies.
178. From eucalypts.
179. From eucalypts.
180. Large number (150) of a dirty white scale insect.
181. Weevils amongst others.
182. Ten larvae.
183. Green bug and fragmentary insect remains.
184. Wilga seeds {Qeijera parviflora).
185. Fragmentary remains of different kinds of insects.
186. Remains very small. Larvae and eggs of small unrecognised insect, possibly scalel
187. Weevils and scarabs.
188. A bee fly.
189. Many fungus gnats ( Mycetophilidce).
190. Many pollen grains (indicating the haunting of flowers).
191. Braconids.
192. JRepsimus legs recognisable ; many small insects, but remains very fragmentary.
193. Included a buprestid.
194. Remains fragmentary and small. Beetles and flies almost certainly recognisable.
195. Included bright green flower beetles {Diphucephala) and some insect eggs.
196. One weevil, one buprestid ; stomach very full.
197. And five insect eggs.
198. Shot amongst fig trees in College orchard.
199. Fragments of spiral vessels and cells, probably fig. Shot in College orchard,
200. Included a buprestid. Food articles chiefly ants.
201. A Doratifera larva.
202. A Psylla, black with white spots.
203. Braconids apparently ; some hundreds.
204. Psyllids plentiful.
205. Contents of stomach examined by Mr. C. Potts, B.A., showed an appreciable quantity
of glucose sugar present. In four other examples the stomachs were empty, but
tests showed glucose sugar to be present. Been feeding on flower nectar.
206. Wilga and Cheimpodium seed, with fragmentary insect remains.
207. A green bug {Cuspicona type).
208. A white scale, with fragmentary insect remains.
209. Elaters, buprestids, and scarabs.
210. One Paropsis, weevils, and scarabs.
211. Numerous small oval black unrecognised seeds.
212. Wireworms.
213. Weevils and flea beetle.
214. Cutworm larvae.
215. Summer grass seed.
216. Believed to be a male scale insect amongst food.
217. Fifty seeds of Polygonum aviculare, a few of P. lapathe folium, and fruits of some
small plant, unrecognised.
218. Cutworm larvae.
219. Seeds of a grass and of a Polygonum.
220. Paspalum seed, and some fragmentary insect remains.
221. Fig remains, also fruits of camphor laurel and Celtia australis.
222. Fruits of camphor laurel and Celtis australis.
223. Camphor laurel fruits.
224. White cedar berries.
225. Digging up wheat. Bird suffering from lice and a louse fly (Hippobosca),
226. Sheep's wool present. (Crows had been observed on a dead sheep.)
227. A scarab larva.
228. And other vegetable remains, including seed pod of a cress.
229. Two birds. Stomach contained bones (mouse?) and unrecognisable insect remains,
230. Scarabs; also hair &,nd bones of mice.
231. Grass, a seed capsule, and the outer glimie of an oat.
232. Pig (?) hair (black), small bones, unrecognisable vegetable matter.
233. Maize and wheat fragments, also field peas. Egg shell ; large pieces bone, up to
f inch diameter ; mouse hair.
112 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15.
234. Peas (left uncovered in drill).
235. Maize in the cob.
236. Also feathers and bones of a young bird, probably unhatchcd chicken.
237. Egg case of mantis, also bone and flesh, hair, a feather.
238. Grass leaves.
239. A cockchafer.
240. Tipula.
241. Grass leaves; a'so a feather, and other unrecognisable matter.
242. Probably Unio (a freshwater bivalve).
243. Weevils and a wireworm.
244. Larva, unknown ; also a pellet of mouse hair ; small feathers ; vegetable matter,
245. A' so some sheep's wool.
246. Thin slices of potato; horse, cow (?) and mouse hair; small bones,
247. White ants.
248. Grass leaves,
249. Native grape fruit and seeds; four Loranth fruits; helmet orchid flowers; buds and
other plant remains.
250. Green leaves and tree twigs.
251. Bees; stomach fairly full : entirely insect food.
252. Scarabs and elaters.
253. Figs.
254. White ants when flying.
255. Perfect insects ; species unknown.
256. Cabbage moth larvae.
257. Cutworm larva;.
258. Seen in a flock jumping at the locusts as they rose from ground.
259. All these birds had fed on maize and wheat.
260. In addition to wheat and maize, stomach contained grass seed, various weed seeds,
and in one case 240 seeds of wire -weed {Polygonum aviculare).
261. Also grass seeds and various insects.
262. 400 seeds millet, little m.aize, 40 summer grass seeds, 14 cat's car seeds, and some
wire -weed seed.
263. Watched feeding on aphides on roses.
264. Two blow-flies {CaUij^hora oceanica) in stomach. 6 March, 1905.
265. 17 cutworm larvse; one lucerne leaf.
266. Elaters and scarabs.
267. 15 cutworm larvEe.
268. Elaters and scarabs.
269. Seven cutworms
270. Weevils.
271. Ten cutworm larva?.
272. Eight cutworm larvse.
273. Twelve cutworm larva).
274. E'aters and scarabs.
275. Eight cutworm larvse.
276. Five cutworm larvse.
277. Three larvse, three beetles.
278. 17 cutworm larvse, and about eighi others, partly digested.
279. Lucerne.
280. A freshwater mollusc, Planorhis.
281. Wire worms, weevils.
282. 17 cutworm larvse.
283. Wireworms, weevils.
284. 15 cutworm larvse.
285. Seeds of Polygonum aviculare, Eragrostis, and summer grass.
286. Nine Plusia larvse.
287. Including portions of an orange coloured fungus [Clavaria ?).
288. Scarabs, weevils, elaters, chrysomelsdi,and a coccinellid carapace.
289. Five rat-tailed larvse {Eristalis tenax), and 30 dipterous larvse like Tahanns, some
larvse resembling blood-worm (Chironomus) ; five other dipterous larvse; also
some fungus gnats {Mycetophilidce).
290. Resembling red scale ; unrecognisable insect remains.
291. Very similar food articles to 289; several Eristalis larvoe.
fydney : \Vil!i.am Apj legfato GuliicK-, Government Plliiter. —1013.
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