1JI"0, 5.] Economic Trnporidurfi of Bl i ils. 121 



Of tlie al'Ove lists it will be seen that very few, if in\y, of tliose in the 

 list of purely insectivorous birds are to be found amoni'' the birds men- 

 tioned in the first ])art of tlie ])aper, i.e., those destro} ed for plnmage or 

 food. With regard to those of mixed diet given in the other lists, it would 

 certainly be unadvisable to protect them, since they may do much greater 

 harm in devouring fruit and grain than they do good in destroying 

 insects, such is specially the case with crows and starlings. 



With regard to the time of breeding, most small birds in Upper India 

 at any rate, breed between April and July. Of course there are many 

 exceptions; but the four montiis — April, May, June and July — would 

 practically cover the breeding time of nearly all the birds which require 

 protection. 



In Southern India many biinis breed in December and January, and 

 in the hills the breeding season^ as for instance in the case of tlie Monaul, 

 is in July and August. In the case however of Lower Bengal, the 

 best months are undoubtedly April, May and June. 



