1911 J Recent Literature. 507 



(Abdimia adimii) and a kind of ibis; other enemies are starlings, guinea- 

 fowls, certain bustards, the black and white hornbill (Buceros leucomelas), 

 several falcons (Tinnunculus rupicolis, T. naumamii, T. rwpicoloides, 

 Milvus aegypticus), rooks, plovers, lapwings, shining thrushes, weaver- 

 birds, etc. Most of the birds eat nymphs of the locust as well as the 

 winged form, some dig up the eggs and devour them. 



The enemies of the red-winged locust (Acridium septemjasciatum 

 are principally the same species that attack the brown locust. The white 

 and black storks and guinea fowls are given special mention. As is the 

 case with the enemies of other migratory locusts, birds rank highest among 

 the vertebrate foes of Schistocerca peregrina. Especially in Usambara, 

 wherever locusts were observed, they have been found by flocks of birds. 

 In the mountains, hooded crows, buzzards, marabous and black storks, 

 and on the plains marabous, waders, guinea fowls, and the ground hornbill 

 (Bucorax caffer) made themselves useful. 



Dr. A. Fredholm gives high credit to the bird enemies of the mole- 

 cricket (Scapteriscus didaclylus) which is responsible for an annual loss of 

 $15,000 on field and garden crops in Trinidad. 1 He says: " First place 

 among the natural enemies belongs to insectivorous birds. Three of our 

 commonest birds, the savannah blackbird (Quiscalus crassirostris) , the 

 tickbird (Crotophaga ani L.) and the Qu'est ce qu'il dit (Lanius pitanga) 

 feed freely on these insects whenever found, and were it not for their 

 persistent hunting, the pests would have committed more extensive de- 

 predations in Trinidad than has been the case so far. The birds will not 

 only quickly snap up any insects appearing above the ground, but they 

 will also carefully scrutinise the vaulted top of every burrow they descry 

 for any movement indicating the passage of the insect beneath. As soon 

 as a criket is thus detected they will demolish the roof and drag it out." 



Dr. Fredholm is of the opinion also that " The most effective as well as 

 economic method of coping with the pest would undoubtedly be to protect 

 its natural enemies : blackbirds, tickbirds, Qu'est ce qu'il dits, toads and 

 lizards. These are true friends of the planters and it should be seen to 

 that due protection is accorded them." 



In a bulletin 2 of the North Carolina Experiment Station on insect 

 enemies of cabbage, Mr. Franklin Sherman, Jr., mentions bird enemies 

 of various pests. In relation to cutworms it is stated that the insect- 

 eating birds " which spend much time on the ground are the most useful, 

 especially the bobwhite, crow, blackbirds, meadowlark, sparrows, catbird, 

 mockingbird, etc. These in the course of a season and especially when 

 rearing their young, pick up many a juicy cutworm." It is not exaggera- 

 tion to say that cutworms are eaten on sight by practically all birds that 

 glean their food from the ground or from low vegetation. The author 

 remarks that " we know but little about natural enemies of flea beetles .... 



i Proc. Agr. Soc. Trinidad, XI, part 2, Feb., 1911, pp. 153-163. 

 2 Vol. 32, No. 7, July, 1911. 



