THE FOOD OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Swallows. These are all very useful from their insectivorous habita. 

 House flies have been found in the House Swallow. They destroy large 

 quantities of mosquitoes and gnats whilst hawking over the water. 



Jacky Winter. This bird is obviously useful, as shown by the variety 

 of the insect contents of its stomach, amongst which blow-flies appear. 



Robins. Their food consists of beetles, ants, flies, grasshoppers, Ac. 

 They are all useful species. 



Fly-catchers, Fly-eaters, &c. All these birds are useful, some highly so, 

 especially the Wagtail and the Kestless Fly-catcher, and the White- 

 shouldered Fantail all common birds. The Willy Wagtail, or Shepherd's 

 Companion, may frequently be seen perched on the backs of sheep, cattle, 

 and horses, from whence it makes frequent rapid sorties around the legs 

 of the animals, securing the biting stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans), bush 

 flies, and probably March flies and blow-flies. 



Cuckoo Shrikes and Caterpillar-eaters. The Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, 

 sometimes called the Rainbird or Blue Jay, feeds on locusts or grasshoppers, 

 .stinging caterpillars, cockchafers, &c. The other species of Cuckoo Shrikes 

 and the Caterpillar-eaters are also highly useful, 



Other Perching Birds. The Ground Thrushes, Babblers, Grass-birds,. 

 Warblers, Tits, Wrens, and Wood Swallows are all without exception useful 

 birds, destroying large numbers of insects, some of which are injurious. 

 The almost complete absence of the smaller native birds in the neighbour- 

 hood of large cities probably accounts for the sick appearance often pre- 

 sented by eucalypts in such situations. These trees near the crowded 

 habitations of man are not searched daily by our smaller native birds for 

 the various insects feeding upon them, and in consequence these insects 

 increase in number and the tree suffers in health. 



The following species may be singled out from amongst this large number 

 of birds as of special value: 



Ground Thrushes. These ground hunting birds sometimes feed on 

 locusts or grasshoppers, moth caterpillars, &c. Occasionally wheat grains 

 are eaten. They probably serve a very useful purpose in scavenging the 

 ground for insects. 



Scrub Wren. This bird hunts on the ground for insects, much like the- 

 Ground Thrushes. 



Coacliwliip Bird,. Maggots and flies have been found in the stomach 

 contents, as well as plant bugs. It probably eats many injurious insects 

 on the ground. 



Babblers or Twelve Apostles. These insectivorous birds occasionally 

 feed on locusts, plant bugs, &c. 



White-fronted and Tri-coloured Chats. These arc evidently very useful 

 birds, as shown by their feeding on the larva? of cabbage moths, locusts, 

 &c., and even blow-flies. They frequent open country. 



Tits. The little Acanthizas are usually found on the eucalypts. They 

 probably play a useful part in keeping these clean from insect pests, but 

 otherwise are not of much importance, except the Chestnut-rumped, Yellow- 



