Vol. VIIL 



J Campbell, Description of a Neiv Emu-Wren. 35 



Description {Male). — Forehead chestnut ; tail fuscous ; rest of 

 upper surface olive-brown, each feather having a broad dark 

 (fuscous) stripe. Lores, throat, and chest light purplish-blue ; 

 rest of under surface greyish-brown. 



Dimensions in inches : — Total length, 5 ; wing, 1.54 ; tail, 3.04 ; 

 bill, 0.39 ; tarsus, 0.6. 



(Note. — This note has been held over for some time in the 

 hope that Mr. M'Lennan could procure another specimen, 

 perhaps a female, but, on account of the shy nature of the little 

 birds, he has, so far, been unsuccessful. — A.J.C.) 



The White^eye {Zosterops coerulescens) : its Rela^ 



tion to the Orchardist. 



By a, H. Chisholm, Maryborough (Vict.) 



There has been so much said to the discredit of this familiar 

 little bird that I am tempted to take up the cudgels in its 

 defence, and state my personal and practical experience of its 

 destructive and useful traits. 



Z. cccrulescens is the only representative of the genus in this 

 district, and is a fairly plentiful bird. About the end of 

 December, just after the usual breeding season, two or three 

 couples and their attendant young will gather together into a 

 small flock, and set out upon a systematic tour through the 

 orchards and vineyards. As about this time soft, sweet fruits, 

 such as grapes, mulberries, &c., are ripening, it is not to be 

 wondered at that the White-eyes, possessing as they do a decided 

 taste for saccharine matter, are not slow to take toll of the 

 luscious fruit hanging so temptingly in the sunshine. Then the 

 angry grower, who sees only the empty skins hanging on the 

 grape bunches, does not stop to consider the other side of the 

 question, but sets innumerable poisons, and shoots the birds on 

 sight, whereas, if he would only take the trouble to observe the 

 bird, its habits, and its food a little more closely, he would soon 

 be convinced of the undesirability of such a proceeding. Time 

 and again have I debated this point with prejudiced orchardists. 



It is principally during the autumn and winter months (when 

 most birds are on their best behaviour) that the extreme useful- 

 ness of White-eye to the orchardist and horticulturist becomes 

 most apparent. To enumerate some of its good qualities : — 

 First of all, it is the great enemy of that most destructive pest 

 the fruit tree aphis. I have frequently watched groups of 

 White-eyes busily clearing aphis of various colours off all kinds 

 of fruit trees. Each bird takes a certain branch area, and works 

 systematically, industriously, and well. I am always sorry to 

 see them leave, for I consider them better and certainly cheaper 



