OF SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA. 



we find no other bird of like appearance in southern Australia. 

 In Queensland the native Starling is black and scintillating, 

 but in any other respect is a different bird. This species is a 

 European bird that was introduced to our country many 

 years ago. It has come to stay. Being gregarious, its every 

 action for good or for ill is one of whole measure. It 

 secures an incalculable amount of benefit for man in 

 the destruction of injurious grubs and insects, but as 

 it eats a considerable amount of fruit its good deeds 

 as a grub-destroyer are apt to be left unconsidered. Up 

 to the present time the bird as a helpmate to the grazier 

 and farmer is a valuable one. To the orchardist the 

 menace is a serious one. I certainl\ would recommend 

 fruit-growers to use all precautionary measures. During 

 September of this year I observed two couples in the country 

 between the Murray and Wakool Elvers. For many years 

 their descendants will be an unmixed blessing in that country. 

 Mildura, to the west, beware ! There is a little difficulty in 

 distinguishing the seasonal changes in plumage. The adult in 

 winter plumage is similar to the adult in summer plumage, 

 with so many sandy-buf! tips to the feathers as to make 

 almost another bird of it. The young bird is entirely 

 different from the adult, being almost uniform brown, with 

 white abdomen, streaked with brown. 



The nesting places are mostly in hollows of trees, out of 

 which all the smaller birds must go immediatel}'' the Starling 

 decides to build. This is most unfortunate, because our 

 Kingfishers, Diamond-birds, and Tree-creepers are undoubted 

 benefactors to man, and to be ranked among his best of 

 neighbours. 



