164 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



as snakes, rabbits, rats, mice, &c. Is a laborer not worthy of his hire? 

 It may be a pigeon house is rudely distm'bed by a beautiful Gos-hawk, 

 but our favorite domestic cat may often produce more mischief. 

 Some of the smaller members of the Raj^tores family only havrk 

 f.)r insects &c., such as the lovely Letter-winged Kite and Kestrel, 

 in fact, there is some mention of introducing the Kestrel into New 

 Zealand as a vermin destroyer. 



Amongst true farmers' friends may be reckoned the Owls, but 

 these nocturnal flyers, like the Hawks, are a persecuted race, 

 although they are of inestimable value as vermin killers. The great 

 mice plague which over ran the Western District last year, may be. 

 partially attributed to the extinction of the natural enemies of such 

 vermin. Amongst these enemies foremost stand the Owls. It is 

 rather a remarkable coincidence, that in the Wimmera district, 

 where the mice and rabbit scourges are rampant, there is a marked 

 scarcity of both diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey. The Vermin 

 Board Conference which met lately resolved to commence to-morrow 

 united and simultaneous action towards the extermination of rabbits 

 in the colony. Another resolution was. that the native cat, tiger 

 cat, domestic wild cat, and iguana should be declared natural 

 enemies of rabbits, and protected from destruction. But a great 

 error has been committed in totally over-looldng the greatest 

 natural enemies of the troublesome rodents, viz., the Hawks and the 

 Owls. 



We now pass on to the numerous useful insectivorous birds, such 

 as Night-jars, Swallows, Kingfishers, Flycatchers, &c. Some 36 

 species were figured on a descriptive chart of insectivorous birds 

 which were to be protected by law. The chart was issued some 

 years ago by the Education Department for use in the State Schools. 

 But strange to say^ with one exception, none of the bii'ds have been 

 yet proclaimed. 



Robins and others of the gayer plumaged varieties should be also 

 protected against the unnecessary slaughter caused by their beautiful 

 feathers being highly prized by " foolish fashion" for adorning the 

 c:)stumes of the gentler sex. 



In placing Finches, Parrots, &c., under law, it must be boi'ue in 

 mind iti what respect it may affect dealers and others,- because such 

 birds are becoming general favourites in our avairies, and the fifth 

 section of the " Act" provides a penalty not exceeding five pounds 

 lor every head of native game taken during the period of prohibition. 



Much more might be stated, if necessary, about many other 

 interest'ng birds, but what little has been feebly mentioned, I trust 

 may commend itself to the Olub in the interests of our indigenous 

 "feathered friends." 



