The Kmu. 
121 
they must be partly disabled to prevent their escaping from the 
dish. Insects of some sort must be given daily in addition to 
artificial food. This may be easily supplied in the common 
house fly, catching same alive with traps. Place the traps with 
the flies in an oven for a minute or so, and serve up dead. After 
being caged a few days and used to being fed with live insects 
they will readily take to the fresh-killed flies. For the benefit of 
those aviculturists who cannot secure the fresh ants' cocoons, the 
dried cocoons and preserved yolk of egg, and even the crissel, 
may be obtained from Mr. J. Cooper, of the Eastern Market, 
Melbourne. In conclusion I may state that the above food is 
only meant for delicate specimens ; the hardier varieties may 
easily be kept well on ordinary soft food as sold by Mr. Cooper, 
with addition of live insects. Fruit, too, is relished by and must 
be given to the Regents, Fig Birds, Zosterops, and such-like 
birds. 
European Birds in Tasmania* 
By Frank M. Littler, Launceston. 
Although The Emti has as its object the popularising of the 
study and protection of native birds, it occurred to me that an 
account, up to date, of the distribution of English birds through- 
out this State would not be without some interest to many 
ornithologists. 
The attempts to introduce birds into this State have extended 
over a number of years ; unfortunately, in many instances, 
success has not crowned the eflbrts as was deserved. At the 
southern end of the island more species have been introduced 
and established than at the northern end. Not that one end of 
the island is better suited for acclimatisation than the other, but 
that more individual action has been taken by gentlemen 
interested to import species. 
The most widely 'distributed and the best known of the 
imported birds is the English House Sparrow (^Passer 
domesticus). It was introduced into Launceston from Adelaide 
some thirty or forty years ago, and is thought to have been 
brought here in mistake for the Tree Sparrow {^Passer nwntanus). 
As might be expected, there was a great cry of protestation 
after it had thriven and multiplied. In many country districts 
the Sparrows now do an enormous amount of damage to the 
grain crops, and are heartily detested by farmers in consequence, 
who do all they can to thin their ranks, but without any appreci- 
able diminution in their numbers. In vegetable gardens Sparrows 
do considerable damage, as they are very fond of pulling up 
young peas and destroying the buds of trees, &c. It must be 
added, however, that these birds, especially during the winter 
months, eat enormous quantities of aphides and many other 
