SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15. 



Plovers. The spurwing and black-breasted plovers apparently feed 

 extensively on insects, included amongst which are some harmful species 

 such as cutworms. They are evidently useful birds to be encouraged. 



Water Birds (Dottrells, Stilts, Coots, Grebes, Herons, Ducks, &c.}. None 

 of these can be considered of definite economic importance one way or the 

 other, with the exception of the Straw-necked Ibis, whose very great value 

 in eating locusts and other grass-eating pests is well known* 



Hawks. Some of these birds are useful in destroying mice and sparrows, 

 as, for instance, the Black-shouldered Kite, as well as the Brown Hawk 

 and the Little Kestrel (Cerchneis). The Brown Hawk and the Kestrel 

 also eat locusts and grasshoppers, whilst the Black-cheeked Falcon eats 

 cicadas. Some of the larger species, of course, do harm in destroying 

 chickens and useful small insectivorous birds. We have had no opportunity 

 of examining the stomach contents of the Eagle-hawk, but from reports 

 this is known to be at times a highly destructive bird to sheep. 



Owls. Three species of owls were examined; all showed the presence of 

 insect food. They are useful in feeding on grasshoppers and beetles, aa 

 well as in destroying mice. 



Parrots and Cockatoos. These are chiefly seed and honey eaters. Grain 

 seeds were found in white cockatoos, which are known to be very destruc- 

 tive frequently to crops. Galahs similarly feed on useful grain. Two 

 Pennant's Parrakeets shot at Wagga had apparently been feeding 011 culti- 

 vated olives. 



Froff-mouths (Mopokes). These birds feed extensively on insects, 

 amongst which grasshoppers were noticed. They are probably highly useful. 



Dollar-lira. This is evidently a very useful species. It feeds on cicadas, 

 army-worm moths, &c. 



Kingfishers. The stomach contents of three Laughing Jackasses 

 examined showed the presence of grasshoppers in one, and beetles in all 

 three. In addition, therefore, to small snakes and mice this bird would 

 seem to be a fairly consistent insect feeder. It is obviously a very useful 

 species. 



The Sacred Kingfisher also feeds 011 locusts and grasshoppers as well as 

 beetles, and is a useful bird. 



The Bee-eater. The chief food of this bird is essentially bees; as is 

 well known, it may be exceedingly destructive in this connection. The 

 occasional injurious insects that it eats probably in no way compensate 

 for the bees destroyed. 



Cuckoos. All the cuckoos are evidently highly useful insectivorous 

 birds, feeding especially on various caterpillars. One Pallid Cuckoo, for 

 instance, had twenty-five cutworm lame in its stomach. Their useful 

 propensities are to a certain extent counterbalanced by the loss' of young 

 insectivorous native birds thrown out of the nests of the foster parents by 

 the young cuckoo. 



