PART II. 



With regard to their food birds fall naturally into three main 

 classes : 



I. Insectivorous. 

 II. Omnivorous. 



III. Graminivorous or vegetarian. 



Each of these three classes can, however, be sub-divided, but they 

 are sufficient for practical purposes here. 



I. Insectivorous birds are those whose food consists mainly 

 of insects and it is from this class that we expect, and 

 get, more help than from the other two. 

 II. Omnivorous birds, strictly speaking, are those which eat 

 everything and anything. Many of these prove bene- 

 ficial, especially during the breeding season, whilst 

 many are certainly more injurious than beneficial. We 

 include here under this heading all birds not under 

 headings I and III. 



III. Graminivorous or vegetable feeders comprise some of 

 most injurious species and are of no use as a general 

 rule. The sole benefit we can expect from these is in 

 aiding seed distribution, in connection with forestry, 

 and the possible destruction of a certain number of 

 insects in wild fruits, which may at times make inroads 

 on cultivated varieties. 



INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS. 



The sweeping statement is often made that because a bird is 

 insectivorous, that bird is beneficial. This is in some cases abso- 

 lutely wrong. Some birds will almost certainly be found to feed 

 on beneficial insects only. How can these birds be beneficial ? 



