OF VICTORIA. 181 



is seen round Melbourne in large numbers, as in 1897, the 

 omen is for a dry interior. The greatest flock seen by 

 myself at any time numbered 57 birds (16^th December, 

 1896, Western Port), but there probably have been larger 

 ones, and the more the merrier, for they are capital vermin- 

 destroyers. I have observed their capacious stomachs 

 crammed with grasshoppers, and Dr. Cobb speaks of them 

 as fluke-eaters while the animal is in its host, Bulinus 

 (a freshwater mollusc). This species plays its part ably 

 when the balance of nature seems disturbed. 



The shooting of the Heron for sport is a serious mistake 

 by those who carry a gun for, very often, misdirected 

 recreation. Surely a little observation would convince 

 anyone with common-sense that the Heron carefully patrols 

 every watercourse for crayfish (" Yabber ") and snails, or the 

 fields for grasshoppers, moths of destructive grubs, dc. 

 I have repeatedly watched solitary pairs, and to absolutely 

 prove the above results 1 have shot them for that 

 purpose. In every case I found them to have well- 

 filled stomachs of one or other species of animal that is 

 vermin to the agriculturist. Take the case of land crabs. 

 But some of you will say that is of no material value, and 

 what if a few crabs are not eaten. I say it is of infinite 

 value to those who have irrigation drains, for of the two 

 special workers needed to keep order one is the Heron. It 

 saves the sieving of the drain, and that means money. 

 Drains are yet to become a valuable " commodity " in this 

 country. The grazier unconsciously feels the result as much 

 as anyone. As an instance, in recent years many species 

 of freshwater snails have been discovered in Victoria to 

 house the " fluke " that eventually gets to the liver of the 

 sheep. The flukes finally leave the snail and go on to the 

 grass, when grass and fluke are eaten by the first flock of 



