The Economic Importance of Birds. n 



Taking a rapid survey of our British species of wild birds of 

 the family, Turdidac, the missel thrush, song thrush, fieldfare and 

 blackbird are the only ones of doubtful character, the rest are all 

 beneficial or too few in numbers, at present, to be regarded as 

 injurious. Of the Paridae, or tits, a diversity of opinion exists. The 

 dipper, nuthatch, wren, the wagtails, pipits, flycatchers, swallows, 

 martins and tree creeper are all beneficial, as also the warblers, 

 excepting the white throat (Sylvia cinerea, Bechst.), the blackcap 

 (S. atricapitta, Linn.) and the garden warbler (8. horteruis, Bechst.). 



Of the large families of finches and buntings, the goldfinch, 

 hawfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch and linnet are frequently recorded 

 as doing harm, whilst the house sparrow and bullfinch are distinctly 

 injurious. Of the buntings, the yellow bunting and corn bunting 

 where numerous, often do a considerable amount of harm. 



The food-habits of the Corvidae have not as yet been particu- 

 larly well investigated. I have shown in the case of the rook that 

 this species has undoubtedly become far too plentiful, and, in conse- 

 quence, injurious. The jackdaw, magpie, and jay, to a certain 

 extent, fall into a similar category. Their numbers in many parts 

 of the country require reducing. 



The wood-peckers (Picadae), although occasionally destructive 

 to trees, telegraph poles, etc., are, on the whole, beneficial. Fisher 

 (45a) states : " The results of investigation into the utility of wood- 

 peckers tend to show that these birds, by their activity in the 

 destruction of insects, play a most useful part in nature, and 

 should, therefore, be protected by foresters." 



The wryneck (lynx torquilla, Linn.), kingfisher (Alcedo i*pida t 

 Linn.), and their allies are all beneficial, as also the cuckoo (Cuculus 

 eanorus, Linn.), the latter feeding upon various hairy caterpillars. 



The Strigidae or owls are, as a class, most beneficial. 



Of the " Birds of Prey," whilst they undoubtedly do a certain 

 amount of harm to game and poultry, the good they do in keeping 

 down rats, mice and voles far outweighs this. 



The Columbidae (wood-pigeon, stockdove, etc.)> are all injurious, 

 and should be destroyed. 



Game-birds, although causing a certain amount of damage to 

 young forest plantations, seed-corn, etc., do a considerable amount 

 of good, and may be regarded as beneficial, and the same may be 

 said of the gulls (Laridae). 



