122 Recent Literature. Ljan! 



wild fruit when that in the orchards began to ripen." Most of the damage 

 to grain is done by finches resident about the fieldS; and more than 16 spe- 

 cies are mentioned, together with notes on their ravages. Some 25 to 30 

 species are listed as granivorous, but not as yet harmful, while four kinds 

 of doves and pigeons, one crow and a crane are said to indulge in pulling 

 newly sown grain. 



The birds injurious to fruit comprise a greater variety including colies, 

 bulbuls, starlings, glossy starlings, parrots, hornbills, white-eyes, sunbirds, 

 and pigeons. Other fruit eaters mentioned are lories, barbets, fruit pigeons 

 and willow warblers. 



The avifauna of South Africa is characterized by great variety of scaven- 

 gers and rapacious birds. Among the enemies of poultry are 3 species 

 of Astur, 2 of Accipiter, 2 of Micronisiis, 3 of Falco, 1 Buteo, 2 Spizaetus, 



1 Hieracetus, 1 Aquila, 1 Milvus, 1 Melierax, 1 Circus, 2 Circaetus, and 



2 Bubo. Five or more other hawks and owls are mentioned as occasional 

 depredators of the poultry yard. The damage is considerable at times, 

 being most severe when the predatory birds are rearing their young. Mr. 

 Roberts believes in protecting poultry, so far as possible, with wire netting, 

 but remarks that this form of protection is not available for game. He 

 states that " There is no means of protecting game from the attacks of 

 vermin except by getting rid of the most destructive kinds, and the results 

 of so doing will seriously affect other interests. At present the country 

 is not in a position to undertake the destruction of any class of bird, and 

 it will have to remain over until a sounder knowledge of their habits has 

 been obtained." 



The birds that have a beneficial relation to stock, that is, as tick destroy- 

 ers, include the oxpeckers, one species of egret, one crow and one starling. 

 Those troublesome to stock farmers, mainly because of attacks on lambs, 

 are 4 eagles of the genera Spizaetus and Aquila, a lammergeier, a vulture, 

 and a raven. The scavengers listed include 6 vultures of 5 different genera, 

 2 eagles, generically distinct, a kite, 2 crows and one stork. 



In his remarks upon protection, the author presents some very sensible 

 views regarding the tendency for economic values to vary locally, and the 

 advantage of each district having a protected list of its own. He further 

 says: " Only wholly useful birds should be protected, because farmers 

 and others must be allowed to protect their own interests." The birds 

 suggested for protection as friends of the stock farmer are oxpeckers and 

 the buff-backed egret; as consumers of locusts and termites, pratincoles, 

 black stork, white stork and wattled starling; as destroyers of small 

 vermin and insects, kestrels, black-shouldered kite, owls (except the three 

 largest species), swallows, swifts and wagtails; as being beautiful and likely 

 to be exterminated, bluejays or rollers, and the crested crane. Mr. Roberts 

 notes that the English sparrow, although introduced long ago, has not 

 spread very far or become a nuisance, while the common starling of only 

 25 years standing has become injurious about Capetown. 



