362 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



grasshopper. The white-eyed Buzzard Eagle and the Brahminy 

 Kite are beneficial, the common Pariah Kite also, except where 

 fowls are kept, and the Shikra and Crested Honey Buzzard 

 are beneficial. 



Of the Doves and Pigeons, the Bengal Green Pigeon is neutral, 

 the Spotted Dove and Indian Ring Dove injurious, though of little 

 importance. They are shot for food to a very slight extent and 

 probably are of no economic importance. The Black Partridge 

 is distinctly beneficial and deserves protection, while the Button 

 Quail is less distinctly beneficial. The White-breasted Waterhen 

 is beneficial, the Bengal Florican is doubtful, though insect eating, 

 as there are not sufficient stomachs to decide what proportion of its 

 food is injurious. The Stone Curlew and Red-Wattled Lapwing are 

 beneficial, the Indian Spur-winged Plover neutral, the Little Ringed 

 Plover and the Sand-pipers doubtful, the Redshank and Little 

 Stint neutral, while the common Snipe is mildly beneficial but not 

 important. 



Of the Ibises, Storks, Herons, &c., the Black Ibis I rank as an 

 injurious bird, but I admit this to be open to opinion as the frogs 

 it eats are balanced by such insects as Agrotis and Prodenia and as 

 the frogs' value is by no means certain. There is no definite case 

 either way on the evidence, perhaps, and the same applies to the 

 Common Herons, in this case feeding on frogs. The Cattle Egret 

 is a markedly beneficial bird deserving of protection, while the Pond 

 Heron is distinctly not beneficial by feeding largely on Dragonflies. 

 Of the Swans, Ducks and Geese, the Garganey or Blue-winged Teal 

 is neutral, as are probably all its allies from our point of view. 



In considering this question from the agricultural aspect, in a 

 tract such as Behar, the conclusion one comes to in that there are 

 large numbers of common birds which are extremely beneficial, 

 which deserve protection, and which in the main are not affected 

 by man at all. They neither need protection nor can they be en- 

 couraged. There are, however, exceptions : the Indian Roller or 

 Blue Jay is shot to some extent on account of its plumage ; it should 

 be rigidly protected and the export of its skins prevented. The birds 



