Birds in and around the firing line. 247



land to be profitably and economically carried on. I need not stress

the subject much further. The immense losses of sheep last year

from blowflies must have cost Australia some millions sterling.

Without doubt the natural enemies of the flies—the insectivorous

birds of Australia—must be looked to as a means to mitigate the

plague. Unless these birds are protected they will continue to

diminish and the plague increase. So with mice destroying grain.

Their natural enemy must be protected or the damage will always

be imminent. The orchardist has many bird friends working for

him, and some bird enemies working against him. The friends

should be known and protected, and even the bird enemies should

be judged charitably before being exterminated.


The legislature could well give time to consider a Bill to

protect our wild bird life.


(Reprinted from the ‘ Sydney Daily Telegraph.’)



BIRDS IN AND AROUND THE FIRING LINE.


By Lieut. R. Hamilton Scott.


Altogether, up to the present, I have seen seventy-four different

species which I have recognised, besides several others of which I was

not certain. My first period out here, from September, 1915, to May,

1916, was spent chiefly in the Ypres salient. In this locality I saw

about fifty-nine different birds. I was wounded and came to

England before the Somme battle, and have never had the chance of

seeing that country. I believe that it is a more interesting bird

country than either the salient or where I am now, which is roughly

tnidway between. I have never had the good fortune to see either

Hoopoes or Golden Orioles, which I believe were to be seen in

numbers down there. No bird of particular rarity stands out

amongst those I have seen. I hoped that I might meet some

European birds other than British, but have seen none save the

Crested Lark and one or two doubtful species of Lark or Pipit.

Speaking of European birds, is there a handy book on them ? I

mean such a one as might be brought out here, not a “ priceless

copy.”


This part of the country is most uninteresting from a bird



