Il6 Australasiaii Ornitliologists Union. [ist"Tan 



happened to be the most plentiful, was that which was eaten most. 

 The amount of injurious insect life eaten by them is very large, 

 and they also consume the seeds of noxious weeds. They will 

 undoubtedly spread over Australia in course of time, despite of all 

 means taken to check them. They nest two or three times in the 

 season, building their bulky nests either in hollows or thick foliage, 

 boxthorn hedges being favourite places for them, and in these 

 they are fairly secure. Various means have been used for trapping 

 and poisoning them wholesale, but without much success. 



Java Sparrows {Padda oryzivora) were also imported in con- 

 siderable numbers. In 1863, 80 were liberated, in 1864, 220, and 

 in 1872, 235 ; but from some cause or another they did not succeed, 

 and fortunately all died or were killed out. They were hard-billed 

 birds, and stronger birds than the Sparrow. Their food consisted 

 principally of seed, but they also took insects and fruit, and it is 

 just as well, I think, that they did not thrive. 



In 1863, 45 Chinese Sparrows were liberated, and in 1864, 20 more ; 

 but luckily they also were not in sufficient numbers to obtain a 

 foothold, and all gradually disappeared. 



The Indian Minah {Acridotheyes irisfis) was hrst introduced in 

 1863, when 42 were liberated ; in 1864 40 others were let out, in 

 1866 another small lot, and 70 more in 1872. These birds have 

 fortunately increased very slowly, and are only to be found near 

 the larger towns, and are distributed over a small portion of 

 Victoria, and that mostly in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. 

 They are something like the Sparrow, and eat seed and insects, 

 being also very fond of fruit, either hard or soft kinds, and being 

 a fair-sized bird, soon make havoc with any sort they attack. 

 They are plain-coloured birds, have no song, except some dis- 

 jointed but slightly musical notes, and have little to recommend 

 them. They seem very local, and it will be a long time before 

 they increase in sufficient mmibers to be of much trouble to the 

 fruit-growers in the country districts. They are weak flyers, 

 easily caught by birds of prey, and instead of taking refuge in thick 

 vegetation, should a Hawk appear, they noisily fly in small com- 

 panies near their enemy, or sit on some dead tree or other con- 

 spicuous place to watch him, consequently they are easily and 

 frequently caught. 



Chafflnches {Fringilla cadebs) were brought out in considerable 

 numbers, 50 being turned out in 1863, 40 in 1864, and 40 more in 

 1872 ; but they do not seem to have thriven and there are few, if 

 any, left now. 



Fifty Greenfinches {Ligiirinus diloris) were also liberated in 1863, 

 also 40 in 1864, and 20 more in 1872. These birds have done fairly 

 well, and are now established near the metropolis and in the tea-tree 

 scrub round Port Phillip, but their increase is nothing like so rapid 

 as that of the Starling or Sparrow. Their habits are, of course, 

 well known. Being of an inconspicuous colour, and living in fairly 

 thick cover, they do not suffer from birds of prey as much as some 

 other birds. 



