iv 



investigations on the same subject, and the Board have decided 

 to work in conjunction with this Committee. Two points 

 require special investigation. It is necessary to examine and 

 tabulate the contents of the crops of certain birds in each 

 month of the year, so that an opinion may be formed of 

 the benefits or injuries caused by birds at all seasons. 

 Secondly, it is necessary that some estimate should be made of 

 the available food in the district where the birds were feeding 

 when killed, in order that it may be decided whether the foods dis- 

 covered in the crops were selected from choice or from necessity. 

 Mr. Newstead's report throws a good deal of light on the first of 

 these questions, but many more workers in the field are 

 required before the latter question can be decided. It is 

 hoped that later reports will include some information on 

 this point. 



Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 



4, Whitehall Place, S.W. 

 • ioth December, 1908. 



