150 
Bee-eaters, “Berik-Berik” ( Merops philippinensis), beautify 
green and blue birds with pointed tails and long beaks, are great 
enemies to white-ants, grasshoppers and other insects. They ffy 
m small flocks sitting from time to time on the ends of bamboo*^ 
or long boughs whence they dart on passing insects. When 
jungle is being burnt they will often flock round to seize the 
grasshoppers driven out by the smoke. The racket- tailed 
I bongo, Chechawi, ’ a black bird well known for the curiom - 
racket-shaped tail-feathers which it wears in the breeding season 
catches many insects, but as a rule does not go far from th- 
woods except towards evening. The sun birds, often erroneousl 
called humming birds ( Anthreptes and Arachnolheres), usual! 
feed on small insects and spiders, but I have seen one attacking 
one of the big brown crickets which are often so destructive t< 
seedlings. The black and white robin or magpie robin ( Copsic 
saularis) destroys many insects and especially caterpillars. T 
white-headed bulbul, “Merebah” {Pycnonotus analis). is onr 
vorous, eating insects of all kinds, but also great quantities * 
small fruits, especially those of the cinnamon, of which they w 
very soon clear a tree. It may eat coffee-berries too, but of th 
I am not sure. 
The myna (Tiong) Eulabes and the Java sparrow (which h 
been introduced into Singapore apparently under the impressir 
that it would eat insects) are both exclusively fruit-eaters, as r 
the starlings, and so are rather injurious than useful. I 
shrikes, of which we have two or three kinds recognizable 
their hooked beaks, are insect-eaters. The commonest is ; 
small brown shrike ( Lanius cristatus ). which is not much big; 
than a bulbul. It may often be seen sitting on telegraph wi 
or the tops of bushes looking out for its prey. 
The woodpeckers always appear where there is dead tim~ 
standing. They destroy the grubs which live in the woe 
chiefly those of Longicom beetles, and as some of these are in, 
rious to the timber of the buildings, while some of the other wo( 
borer injure living trees either as grubs or when developed in 
the perfect insect, the woodpeckers are to be encouraged. 
Quails though seed-eaters to a large extent alsoeat grasshoppi s 
and other insects, and as they run about among the bushes or in 
the cane fields may clear off a great many insects concealed be- 
neath the foliage. They do not eat berries so they arequ’ te 
harmless in the coffee. Hornbills and pigeons being fruit-eaters, 
though the former eat also small animals such as lizards, and 
sometimes large insects, do more harm than good and may be 
excluded from the birds worthy of protection. — H. N. Ridley. 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF POT PLANTS. 
Although the cultivation of ornamental plants is of less irr ■ 
portance to mankind than that of those used in food, medicine, 
or the arts, there is no branch of horticulture that appeals to a 
wider circle in all civilized communities, and it is not surprising 
