DESTRUCTION OF NATIVE BIRDS IN NEW SOUTH WALES — NORTH. 2 1 



seeds of which these birds subsist, do not exist. From Byrock 

 to Bourke, during very hot summers, it is not an uncommon 

 thing for large numbers of bii'ds to die with the excessive heat. 

 As both the Finches and Parakeets are prolific breeders, with the 

 return of good seasons it is to be hoped they will appear again in 

 their old haunts as numerous as ever. 



I do not fear as much for a diminished Avifauna inland as near 

 the coast and in the vicinity of large centres of population. Of those 

 birds frequenting our coastal brushes and contiguous mountain 

 ranges, the Lyre-bird, if successful, rears only one young bird in 

 a season; the Rifle-bird and Regent Bower-bird, usually two each, 

 at the most three, in a season. The adult males of all three of 

 these species, having a commercial value, apart from their value 

 as natural history specimens, are in the future liable to be 

 utterly exterminated, unless stringent measures are taken for 

 their absolute protection. Large areas of still unalienated 

 virgin brush lands and mountain-range should be perpetually 

 reserved in the haunts of these beautiful birds, and the entire 

 flora and fauna of these reserves kept sacred and zealously guarded 

 against all would-be destroyers. 



Briefly summed up the facts are these : — Partly through 

 nature's laws, and partly through ignorance, carelessness, and 

 design, the destruction of bird-life has been for years past, 

 and is still going on almost unrestricted. Through nature's 

 laws, by the growth of cities and suburbs, the felling and 

 burning of brush and forest lands in the country districts, 

 and bush fires ; by the ignorance of boys and youths not know- 

 ing the damage they are doing in shooting birds throughout the 

 year ; through carelessness on the part of persons introducing 

 foreign mannnals and birds into Australia, and ignorant whether 

 their introduction will prove beneficial or harmful; by design in 

 the wilful trapping and shooting of birds iii the close season. 



Where preventible, is this annual loss of bird-life to continue 1 

 If so, ere another century is passed, the sweet melody of birds 

 may no longer be heard by the future dweller near city, hill, or 

 plain, and Australia become what was so falsely reported of her 

 in the early days of settlement, a songless land — a land of 

 silence 



