E. A. OKMEllOD — PRETENTION OF INSECT-INJUKY. 3 



drouglit for iustanoo, or sudden heavy rainfall after dry hot -vrcathor, 

 — or loug-coutiniu'd rainfall atfecting the state of plant-health, and 

 the state of the ground, all have eifects that we understand and 

 can woi'k on, but there is a great deal as to the reasons for insect- 

 appearance in large or small (luautlties that as yet we have not 

 got tlie clue to, and it is this variable amount of attack that 

 makes the great difficulty in calling in the aid of what may bo 

 considered our first natural helpers, the insectivorous birds. There 

 is no doubt that keeping up what is called the average amount 

 is desirable, and in fact necessary ; but when we come to inviting 

 a large increase in numbers, or to the introduction of species which 

 either for variety, or in emergency, are partially graminivorous 

 in their diet, it is to be feared that we may be doing ourselves 

 a mischief. So long as there is a great amount of insect-presence, 

 so long do the extra number of these birds of mixed diet help us, 

 but failing the insect-food they are very apt to prey on the crops 

 instead, and may turn out a still greater evil. 



It would be a great help for practical purposes, if we had a short 

 account in plain form of the habits and the diet in ordinary circum- 

 stances and emergencies of our common insectivorous birds, together 

 with the localities which they frequent. Many feed partially on 

 insects, or, as the description often runs, "on insects, worms, and 

 slugs," but it would be very useful to know which kinds in time 

 of scarcity make up their scanty meals from our crops, and which 

 turn to animal matter such as mice or the smaller Mammalia, 

 carrion or oifal, small fish, and the shell-fish of our ponds and 

 streams, or the animal life of the sea-shore. Some of the gregarious 

 birds that frequent both the sea-shore and the estuaries of our 

 larger rivers are iiseful by coming occasionally, and when attracted 

 by a great amount of insect-presence, far inland, but not burdening 

 us with their keep when not serving us. Several kinds of sea-gulls 

 are thus of use by following the plough on land infested with large 

 grubs, especially those of the cockchafer ; and I have notes sent in 

 this year of the serviceableness of the black-headed gull, Lams 

 ridihundus (sometimes known as the Scoulton gull), in destroying 

 caterpillars and various kinds of moths during a bad attack on the 

 oaks at TuUamore, King's County, Ireland. 



The lapwing, which frequents marshy places as well as wild 

 heaths and hill-sides, helps us by feeding on insects in their various 

 stages, and was notably useful last year in the attacks of the 

 larvfe of the daddy-long-legs, or Tipulce. 



Starlings also will most conveniently undertake, so to say, a 

 temporary piece of work, such as clearing saw-fly larvas, and 

 though in default of insect-food they will eat berries or grain, and 

 are sometimes injurious from the vast numbers in which they 

 collect bearing down their roosting-places, yet near the sea-shore 

 they will turn in times of scarcity to the supplies of animal food 

 that they can gather on the beach. 



The insectivorous night or twilight fliers, such as the tawny 

 owl and the night-jar, are very serviceable ; so also is the cuckoo, 



