^^f^r2,rr i-v. 



BIRDS INSECTIVOROUS AND FRUGIVOROUS 

 (MORE OR LESS USEFUL). 



Birds, like other animals, are very much governed by their 

 surroundings, and when one observer will record such a 

 species as the common Red- wattle Bird as a pest, a second, in 

 another district, will say it is a bird practically harmless to 

 the orchardist. Even so, there are members of the feathered 

 class that show a distinct partiality for native fruits. It is 

 in this section that growers cannot expect to see resisted 

 so strong a temptation given in the culture of choice fruits 

 under the eaves of their natural haunts. If it is our duty, 

 in the course of self-preservation, to treat the birds of this 

 part mor3 severely than the preceding ones mentioned here 

 I am strongly of opinion that a great slaughter is an 

 undesirable disturbance of the balance of nature. What is 

 wanted is a severe punishment administered on the spot 

 where the fruit is growing. To shoot or poison birds away 

 from the place of transgression is, in my opinion, little 

 better than whipping a dog hours after it has committed 

 and forgotten a wrong. The inclusion of honey-eaters 

 amongst the birds known as insectivorous and frugivorous 

 needs a word of explanation. When there is honey it is 



