The feeding and breeding habits in the Miyake Island population of the Varied Tit
Parus varius in comparison with those of a mainland population were reported in my earlier papers (HIGUCHI, 1975, 1976a). Since that time, an interesting fact was discovered, this being that the island population uses the nuts stored in autumn and early winter not only as the principal food in winter but also as food for raising nestlings and fledglings in the breeding season. Such habits are not known in the mainland population of the Varied Tit and other species of tits, excepting the Siberian Tit
Parus cinctus which gives insect larvae stored several days before to the nestlings (HAFTORN, 1973).
The purpose of this paper is to report what proportion of the food brought to nestlings consisted of stored nuts in this island population of the Varied Tit. The nut storing habit of the island population is described briefly in Appendix, since the subject has previously been treated only in Japanese.
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