434 



UsEP^UL AND Injurious Birds. 



[OCT., 



plants and other trees and fruit-bearing plants may be im- 

 ported under certain conditions by special permission of the 

 Secretary for Agriculture. The full text of the present Govern- 

 ment Notice is published in the Rliodesian Agricultural Journal 

 (August, 1906), and may be seen at the offices of the Board. 



The International Convention for the Protection of Birds 

 Useful to Agriculture has drawn up a list in which it dis- 

 tinguishes between those species which may 



Birds Useful and -^^ general be considered useful or harmful 

 Injurious to ^ 



Agriculture. agriculture.* The most important of 



these are given below. 



Useful Birds. — Certain species of owls {^Surnia, Athene^ 

 Glaucidiuin, Syrniuui) ; barn owl {Strix flamiuea, L.) ; the short 

 and long-eared owls {Otus brachyotus and 0. vulgaris) ; Scop's 

 owl {Scop's Aldrovandi, Flem.) ; all species of woodpeckers 

 {Piais, Gecinus^ &c.) ; roller {Coracias garrula) ; hoopoe {Upupa 

 epops) ; tree creepers and nuthatch {Cei'thia and Sitta) ; swifts 

 {CypsebLs) ; nightjar {Capriviulgus) ; hedge sparrow {Accentor') ; 

 warblers of all kinds {Sylvia, Acrocephalus, &c.) ; gold and fire- 

 crested wrens {Regulus) ; common wren ( Troglodytes) ; tits of 

 all kinds {Pams, Panurus, &c.) ; fly-catchers {Muscicapa) ; 

 wagtails {Motacilla) ; the swallows {Hirundo, CJielidon) ; pipits 

 {Anthus, &c.) ; crossbills {Loxia) ; goldfinch {Carduelis) ; and 

 the common and rose coloured starlings {Sturnus and Pastor). 



Harmful Birds. — Among these are included certain eagles 

 {Aquila, Haliaetus, &c.) ; the osprey {Pandion haliaetus) ; kites 

 {Milvus, Nauclerus) ; falcons of all kinds, except the kestrel 

 {Falco tinnunculus), and two less well-known species.; the 

 sparrow hawk {Accipiter nisus) ; the harriers {Circus) ; the eagle 

 owl {Bidw maxiuius^ Flem.) ; the raven {Corvus corax) ; magpie 

 {Pica rustica)\ jay {Garrulus glandarius)\ and some other 

 birds of less interest to agriculture. 



It may be noted that birds such as the lapwing and cuckoo 

 are omitted, while the rook and the wood pigeon are also not 

 mentioned. The sparrow {Passer domesticus), undoubtedly the 

 most destructive of birds in this country, is also omitted. 



Revue Gcncrale Agronoviiqne, May, 1906. 



