238 

 BIRD INTRODUCTIONS. 



By C. S. JuDD, Executive Officer. 



The hornfly is a distressing pest in Hawaii and the worry and 

 irritation from its blood sucking liabit has been felt by thousands 

 of cattle in these islands since its introduction twenty-four years 

 ago. 



Entomologists have been working on the control of this pest 

 and have attacked it mainly by introducing tumble bugs in the 

 attempt to break up manure which is the breeding place of the 

 larvae of the hornfly. 



In the effort to give more relief to cattle raisers throughout 

 the Territory the Board of Agriculture and Forestry is now 

 considering the proposition of introducing from Australia a bird 

 which will destroy the adult fly. 



The bird which has been highly recommended is a fly catcher 

 called the Shepherd's Companion {Rliipidura tricolor). It is 

 also known in Australia as Willie Wagtail because it spreads , 

 its tail out fan-like and wags it from side to side. The bird has 

 a wide range of distribution from Australia through the Malay 

 Islands to the mainland of Asia. 



The Willie Wagtail is considered to be wholly insectivorous 

 and for this reason there is no danger of its becoming a menace 

 to rice or other agricultural crops in these islands. In its native 

 habitat in Australia it is very seldom ever found in the thick 

 forest country or in the middle of cane fields, but is often found 

 around the edges by the roadside especially if horses and cattle 

 are about. There is little doubt that it would be of benefit in 

 these islands for it feeds on flies of various sorts, grasshoppers 

 and nearly any insect that is moving about. For this reason, it 

 would also take beneficial insects as well as harmful ones, but 

 the few beneficial flies that it would capture w^ould be offset 

 by the leafhoppers, moths and other cane enemies which it would 

 consume, thereby squaring accounts. 



The Willie Wagtail is a small bird with a black back and tail 

 and a white belly and its attractive cry resembles, "Sweet pretty 

 creature." The bird is universally loved throughout Australia 

 because of its friendly habits and it is regarded there as almost 

 part of the home and one would no more interfere with the 

 Willie Wagtail than destroy the domestic chickens, its daily 

 companions. So tame does this bird become, if unmolested about 

 country houses, that it will feed out of its protector's hands. It 

 makes its nest in trees and would therefore, not be interfered 

 with by the mongoose. 



It may often be seen dancing upon the backs of horses, cattle, 

 or sheep grazing in open paddocks, or hopping along in the grass 

 before them. It is either searching for parasites upon the ani- 



