154 



THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



sliows that most if not all of our pests 

 are bold and barefaced in their acts of 

 destruction. 



DISQUIETING EVIDENCE. 



In the AvicuUural Magazine there are 

 statements to the effect that, when reared 

 in aviaries, the bulbul feeds mainly on 

 mealworms and other insects such as 

 house flies, varying this occasionally 

 with a little soft food suck as banana, 

 and reports such as this seem rather re- 

 assuring, but in the Ibis, another mag- 

 azine of ornithology, all reports are 

 very much against it. In 1901 an orni- 

 thologist noted that the bulbul discovered 

 that strawbei-ries were very good to eat, 

 and it was not long before it became a 

 great nuisance to gardeners. It was* 

 also found to be partial to mulberi-ies. 



In 1892 it was introduced into Mauri- 

 tius and increased its numbers at a ter- 

 rific rate, rearing several broods in a 

 year, so that by 1911 it was widely dis- 

 tributed through the island and was a 

 scourge and pest to gai'deners and fruit 

 growers. It was found to live entirely 

 on insects and fruit, the latter being the 

 main diet. The great decrease in the 

 numbers of Zosterops (Silver Eyes) was 

 put down to the bulbul living on the 

 same food, thereby forcing the smaller 

 bird to either get out of the way or 

 perish. 



As this subject promises some very in- 

 teresting observations which should re- 

 sult in valuable information, I can as- 

 sure readers that the bird will be kept 

 well under observation, and I will be 

 very glad to receive the fullest informa- 

 tion possible from those who are inter- 

 ested, so that, as soon as sufficient data 

 are available, they can be published. The 

 most satisfactory way to observe is with 

 the aid of strong field glasses. 



Be sure of your bird and do not mis- 

 take it for either of the other two men- 

 tioned; look for the tell-tale red fea- 

 thers behind the eye and below the tail 



feathers. The note of the bulbul is very 

 pleasant, and it seems to be a very 

 proud bird, evidently because of its 

 crest, as it generally perches well in 

 view. 



BIRD PROTECTION. 



A study of wild life shows that our 

 useful birds are rapidly becoming exter- 

 minated, despite the fact that there is a 

 Birds and Animals Protection Act, un- 

 der which all ©ur birds, with the ex- 

 ception of about thirty species, are pro- 

 tected, and the boundaries of declared 

 sanctuaries are laid down. At the pre- 

 sent rate of destruction, we may find 

 that in a few years not many useful 

 birds will remain, while the country will 

 be overrun with pests. It would ap- 

 pear that declared pests, with the ex- 

 ception of crows, are the only birds 

 which escape destruction, while useful 

 ones, often, perhaps, because of their 

 attractive coloui-s, are those most sought 

 after either for personal adornment or 

 for aviarine purposes. In view of these 

 facts, some New South Wales members 

 of the Royal Australasian Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union are now engaged upon a 

 special enquiry into the economic value 

 of our birds and the best method of 

 protecting them. The fact that New 

 South Wales has many declared sanc- 

 tuaries is not to say that the law in re- 

 spect to protection is being observed. 

 Far from it, often there is more des- 

 truction and shooting in sanctuaries 

 than elsewhere, and this is mainly be- 

 cause proper supervision is impossible, 

 due to an insufficiency of rangers. The 

 R.A.O.U. is making an effort to have 

 additional sanctuaries proclaimed, and 

 to have a number of honorary rangers 

 appointed from its ranks to help the 

 already overworked police and special 

 rangers in the enforcing of the Birds 

 mid Animals Protection Act. They 

 liope that they will have the just sym- 

 pathy and help of all. 



