WHITE-EYE. 
with; he seems to take a mischievous delight in sampling every fruit, without 
regard to his own wants.’ ” 
A. G. Hamilton, Mt. Kembla, said at the same Conference : “ Although 
these little Honey-eaters are very destructive to grapes and stone fruit, they 
do an immense amount of good by clearing the trees of aphides in winter 
and early spring. A flock of them will peep and pry about a leafless tree 
and in a short time clear it of many obnoxious insects.” In Victoria, French 
marks it as one of the most destructive visitants to orchards and vineyards, 
while Robert Hall says : “It is the scourge of the aphis and other noxious insects 
when there is no fruit upon the tree,” and quotes Hill: “ the White-eye is the 
chief enemy of the case moth, destroying the young larvae in great numbers ; 
indeed, but for these useful little birds the case moths might easily become 
a serious insect pest.” 
Chisholm also reported favourably: “ First of all, it is the great enemy 
of that most destructive pest, the fruit-tree aphis. I have frequently watched 
groups of White-eyes busily clearing aphis of various colours oil all kinds of 
fruit trees. Each bird takes a certain branch area and works systematically, 
industriously, and well. I am always sorry to see them leave, for I consider 
them better and certainly cheaper than all spray pumps and other mechanical 
devices. . . I have also frequently watched this energetic little bird 
feasting on some small insect (name unknown to me) which causes a lot of 
damage among the rhubarb plants. And if this were not sufficient evidence 
to support its claim to the friendship and protection of the orchardist, it is 
a great enemy of the codlin moth and pear-tree slug—two of the greatest 
pests the grower has to contend with. . . Taking it on the whole, I can 
unhesitatingly affirm that (in this district, at all events) the good done by 
this much-maligned little bird far outbalances what little damage it may cause.” 
Cleland has recorded the contents of the stomachs of a number of these 
birds killed in February, April, May, June, August and October, and all, even 
the one in October, showed remains of insects, sometimes associated with 
fruit juices and flowers. 
Miss Cheney has also written from the Wangaratta District, Victoria : 
“ Not very common. It seemed to be confined to certain orchards. There 
is a difference in opinion as to their value, bub I think that the balance is in 
their favour.” 
Recently Le Souef and Macpherson writing up the Birds of Sydney, air 
invaluable little article as all the earliest named Australian birds were received 
from Sydney, stated : “ The White-eyes ( Zoster ops dorsalis ) are perhaps the 
most numerous of our local native birds.” (Contrast this with Watlings 
statement: “This is the only one of the kind ever seen.”) “They will be 
VOL. XI. 
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