BIRDS AND PASTURAGE 



their brutality, for the following year the grass was 

 attacked below ground and above ground by insect 

 pests in such numbers that it withered and died as 

 if blasted by fire. 



The wanton destruction of wild birds in one of the 

 inland districts of Australia, on which large numbers 

 of settlers had established themselves with the helping 

 hand of Government some years ago, brought its 

 punishment swift and sure. Caterpillars and beetles 

 swarmed over the land and succeeded in converting 

 wide areas of magnificent pasture land into a barren 

 waste. The grasses were utterly destroyed owing to 

 the roots having been devoured. 



A similar calamity befell the New Zealand farmers. 

 The senseless and brutal persecution of native birds 

 resulted in a plague of crane flies and click beetles. 

 The larvae of these pests attacked the roots of the rich 

 meadow grasses, and killed the plants as effectually as 

 though they had been scorched by heat. This scourge 

 threatened to spread over the length and breadth of the 

 land. Again man availed himself of the aid of his per- 

 secuted feathered friends. The English starling was 

 introduced. It multiplied rapidly and fed greedily on 

 the larvae, and saved those undeserving farmers from 

 having to pay the extreme penalty for their misdeeds. 



Without the help of our bird allies there would 

 be no pasture lands for stock. Every blade of grass 

 would disappear from the face of this green earth. 

 The cut-worms, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and grubs 

 would make short work of it, roots and all. 



Man would be as powerless in the face of this 

 vol. i. 8 1 6 



