Station Work 41 



sparrow, a very undesirable emigrant who has 

 invaded the country districts and proved himself 

 destructive and a nuisance. He was introduced to 

 Australia as an insect killer, but careful examina- 

 tion of his diet shows that only three and a half 

 per cent, of it consists of insects. The rest is 

 grain and seeds. This fraud multiplies at an un- 

 heard-of rate, and persecutes and drives away the 

 less hardy native birds. Among vegetable pests, 

 the prickly pear is perhaps the worst, although in 

 the worst of the great drought it was shown to 

 have its uses. The Scotch thistle is another im- 

 ported plant, which has spread itself far and wide, 

 choking the valuable pastures, and rendering 

 large grazing areas useless. The dog-rose, or 

 sweet-briar, has played the same part of unwel- 

 come guest, and there are further instances that 

 could be adduced in justification of the coldness 

 with which Australians now regard any attempt 

 to acclimatise a new animal or plant, the use of 

 which is not plainly apparent. 



