10 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 15. 



rumped, and Buff-rumped Tits, which have been found to feed occasionally 

 on psyllids, thrips, aphids, cutworms, &c., as well as occasionally on nettle 

 seeds. 



Wrens (Blue Wren, &c.). The Common Blue Wren sometimes feeds on 

 cutworm larvae, flies, plant bugs, &c. All these wrens are insectivorous. 

 In gardens the Blue Wrens feed upon aphis, small moths, flies, &c., and 

 hunt every bush. 



Wood-swallows. These are essentially insectivorous wasps and bees are 

 frequently eaten by them, blow-flies occasionally, and sometimes cutworms. 

 The Wood-swallows are often found in mobs of a thousand or more feeding 

 upon the swarms of young " hoppers " (locusts) just as they commence 

 crawling about. They have been seen to clean out large swarms. 



Native Thrushes. These are in general very useful birds, and in par- 

 ticular feed occasionally on caterpillars and grasshoppers. 



Thickheads. The Thickheads are essentially insectivorous. As they 

 feed occasionally on grasshoppers, moth caterpillars, plant bugs, and frog- 

 hoppers, they help to keep down such pests. 



Yellow Robin. A .useful destroyer of caterpillars, small moths, &c., on 

 foliage. 



Tree-runners and Tree-creepers. These birds confine their attention to 

 searching the trunks of trees for insects, and apparently play a useful 

 part in keeping our timber trees free from pests. 



Pardalotes or Diamond Birds. These sometimes feed on thrips, aphids, 

 and scales. They spend most of their time in gum trees. It is probable 

 they are of more use in protecting these than in protecting fruit trees. 



Honey-eaters. The large group of honey-eaters, conspicuous denizens 

 of the Australian bush, are essentially insectivorous, though often feeding 

 chiefly on the honey secretions of flowers, and in a few instances feeding 

 on fruits and seeds, as in the case of the Yellow-eared Honey-eater, 

 Yellow-faced Honey-eater, and Singing Honey-eater. In the majority of 

 instances they are not of specific economic importance, save in a general 

 sense of keeping down the multiplication of insects of many kinds. Some 

 of the larger honey-eaters, however, especially the Minah, are of a decided 

 value. At the Blow-Fly Experiment Station at Uralla, the Noisy Minah 

 was found to catch blow-flies around the camp as well as to eat maggots 

 in carcases. In the fruit-growing districts, however, it will feed on grapes 

 and soft fruits. Minahs have also been found to feed upon cutworms, 

 plant bugs, &c. 



Ground Lark. Ground Larks sometimes feed 011 wireworms and cut- 

 worms, as well as on grass and wheat seeds. They are obviously useful. 



Grey Jumper or Happy Family. These birds chiefly feed on grass and 

 wheat seeds, but also destroy a large number of ground insects. 



White-winged Chough. Fifteen of these birds have been examined; 

 grasshoppers were found in two, and insect remains in all but one. They 

 also feed on various weed and grass seeds, and sometimes on wheat grains. 



