IXSECT-EATIXG BIRDS. 167 



The following are the principal insectivorous vertebrates : — 



Mammals. 



All bats,* especially Ves})eru(jo noctula, Shreb., J', discolor, 

 Natt., I', p'qnstrellus, Schreb. The mole, shrews, especially 

 Sorex vulf/aris, L., the hedgehog, pole-cat, stoat, weasel and 

 badger. These beasts, some of which have been already 

 referred to as mice-destroyers, should be unconditionally 

 protected. 



The fox also devours numerous insects, particularly large 

 beetles, and the wild pig is very useful in the case of insect- 

 attacks. 



Birds. 



The following birds deserve unconditional protection : — 



The common cuckoo {Cuailus canorus, L.) ; woodpeckers, 

 the wryneck {J/jnx torquilla, L.) ; the night-jar {Caprimahjus 

 europaens, L.) ; the swift {Cijpselus apiis, L.) ; the tree-creeper 

 {Certhia familiaris, L.) ; the nut-hatch {Sitta caesia, Wolf) ; 

 all swallows {Hinuido, L.) ; wagtails (Motacilla, L.) ; pipits 

 {Anthiis, Beehst.) ; hedge-sparrow (Accentor, Bechst.) ; gold- 

 crest {Rcfjidiis cristatus, Koch) : wren {Troglodytes pariulus, 

 •Koch); redstart {II. pkoeidciinis, L.) ; stonechat {Saxicola 

 ruhicola, L.) ; wheatear {S. ocnantlie, L.) ; flycatcher {Muscicapa, 

 L.) ; titmice {Pants, L.) ; starling {Sturnus vulgaris, L.). 



•The various species of wagtail eat insects and also small 

 snails, Limnaea sp., which are the hosts of the liver-fluke {Distoma 

 hepaticiim) that is so destructive to sheep. The goldcrest hunts 

 throughout the year for the eggs, larvae and pupae of insects 

 and for scale-insects on coniferous trees. So do titmice, espe- 

 cially the coal-tit {Varus major, L.), P. ater, L., P. cacrulius, L., 

 P.caudatus, L., and P. cristatus, L. The starling is esj^ecially 

 useful in clearing off cockchafer grubs from meadows. They 

 have been seen, at Coopers Hill, to pick them out of the 

 nursery, from the side of Scots pine plants which showed no 

 signs of attack. The bird walks along the line and hears the 

 larvae working below. It also destroys ^Yire- worms and surface 

 caterpillars. 



* Except the fruit-bat3, called iu India flying-foxes. 



