INSECT-EATING BIRDS. 167 



The following are the principal insectivorous vertebrates : 



Mammals. 



All bats,* especially Vesperugo noctula, Shreb., F. discolor, 

 Natt., F. pipistrdlus, Schreb. The mole, shrews, especially 

 Sorex vulgaris, L., the hedgehog, pole-cat, stoat, weasel and 

 badger. These beasts, some of which have been already 

 referred to as mice-destroyers, should be unconditionally 

 protected. 



The fox also devours numerous insects, particularly large 

 beetles, and the wild pig is very useful in the case of insect- 

 attacks. 



Birds. 



The following birds deserve unconditional protection : 

 The common cuckoo (Cuculm canorus, L.) ; woodpeckers, 

 the wryneck (Jynx torquilla, L.) ; the night-jar (Caprimulgus 

 curopacus, L.) ; the swift (Cypselus apus, L.) ; the tree-creeper 

 (Certhia familiaris, L.) ; the nut-hatch (Sitta caesia, Wolf) ; 

 all swallows (Hirundo, L.) ; wagtails (Motacilla, L.) ; pipits 

 (Anthits, Bechst.) ; hedge-sparrow (Accentor, Bechst.) ; gold- 

 crest (Ecgulus cristatus, Koch) : wren (Troglodytes parculus, 

 Koch) ; redstart (R. phoenicurus, L.) ; stonechat (Saxicola 

 ruUcola, L.) ; wheatear (S. oenanthe, L.) ; flycatcher (Muscicapa, 

 L.) ; titmice (Parus, L.) ; starling (Sturnus vulgaris, L.). 



The various species of wagtail eat insects and also small 

 snails, Limnaea sp., which are the hosts of the liver-fluke (Distoma 

 hepaticnm} that is so destructive to sheep. The goldcrest hunts 

 throughout the year for the eggs, larvae and pupae of insects 

 and for scale-insects on coniferous trees. So do titmice, espe- 

 cially the coal-tit (Parus major, L.), P. atcr, L., P. caerulius, L., 

 P. caudatus, L., and P. cristatus, L. The starling is especially 

 useful in clearing off cockchafer grubs from meadows. They 

 have been seen, at Coopers Hill, to pick them out of the 

 nursery, from the side of Scots pine plants which showed no 

 signs of attack. The bird walks along the line and hears the 

 larvae working below. It also destroys wire- worms and surface 

 caterpillars. 



* Except the fruit-bats, called in India ftying-foxes. 



