THE BABBLER. 151 



CHAPTER XCIII. 



THE BABBLER, OR CODLIN MOTH BIRD. 

 (Pomatorhinus temporalis , Vigors and Horsfzeld.) 



The Babbler is commonly, but erroneously, known as 

 the "Cat Bird," probably because, when a number of 

 these birds are gathered together, they resemble in the 

 noise they make the mew of the cat ; so that a stranger, 

 hearing them for the first time, would naturally conclude 

 that several cats were in the vicinity. 



The bird is undoubtedly one of the orchardist's best 

 friends, as it has a distinct partiality for the larvae and 

 pupae of the Codlin Moth. On a visit to Somerville 

 some time ago, my attention was drawn by Mr. George 

 Shepherd, the well-known orchardist, to a number of 

 these birds in an orchard, some distance from his 

 nursery. They were very busy climbing up and down 

 the apple and pear trees, hunting in the crevices of the 

 bark , and under the bandages , for the grubs ; and as at least 

 a dozen birds were engaged in this useful and self- 

 imposed task, their combined efforts would result in a 

 very decided benefit. Incidents like these are of almost 

 ever} 7 day occurrence, and serve to give some idea of the 

 value of these birds as insect destroyers. 



Gould states that the sexes do not differ in outward 

 appearance, and may thus be described: "Throat, 

 centre of breast, and a broad stripe on each eye, white ; 

 lores and ear coverts, dark brown ; centre of the crown, 

 black ; and sides of the neck, greyish-brown, gradually 

 deepening to a very dark brown on the wing coverts, back, 

 and scapularies ; wings very dark brown, with the excep- 

 tion of the inner webs of the primaries, which are rufous 

 for three-fourths of their length from the base ; tail 



