ACROSS THE PLAINS 



171 



crop, which was said to have been ruined by Galahs. 

 A few birds were flying over the field, but none rose 

 from the ground as I drew near. The wheat stalks 

 had been broken down in many spots, and there was 

 not sufficient grain in the whole field to tempt a 

 gleaner. 



GALAH NESTLINGS. 



Admitting that Galahs do much damage among 

 the wheat, one must not forget that the birds also 

 render valuable service to farmers by destroying 

 grasshoppers' eggs, which they dig out of the earth 

 with their powerful beaks. But it is certain that 

 wheat-growers will continue to persecute Galahs, even 

 if trapping be forbidden, and poisoned grain is a 

 menace to birds of other species that do little, if any, 



