INTRODUCTION. 



With such facts as these before us (and they could be 

 multiphed indefinitely), it is clear that the attention of all 

 interested in the land should be directed to a close study of 

 the particular birds of their districts in order that a just 

 estiniate of their services or ravages may be arrived at. 

 Many innocent and useful birds are yearly slaughtered 

 through ignorance of their value, and if this indiscriminate 

 killing continues unchecked it cannot fail to prove disastrous 

 to the landholder, and eventually to the community at 

 large. 



The feeling of man towards birds should, on the whole, be 

 a kindly one. The great mass of the small species should be 

 encouraged to take up their quarters in our fields and about 

 our plantations. A few might be spotted with the black 

 mark to be severely dealt with in ways varying with the 

 species. Certainly a part of the cost of upkeep in every well- 

 settled district will need to be expended on the annual 

 subjection of Sparrows and Starlings. Beyond these birds, 

 each district, according to varying chmatic conditions, needs 

 to battle with its own trouble in its own way. It is very 

 much a matter of food supply. Every labourer is^ worthy of 

 his hire, and the bird well earns its share, no matter in what 

 part of our continent it may at any time be living. The 

 birds termed "useful" earn their title when placed in 

 relation to the agriculturist, the pastoralist, the orchardist, 

 and the forester. 



The illustrations are for the greater part half-tone blocks, 

 and here and now I express my gratitude to the Council of 

 the Australasian Ornithologists' Union for the loan of a 

 number of blocks, the photographers of which have been 



