1918.] The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 375 
Index of Maori Names. 
An index of some twenty-five thousand Maori names occurring in various 
serial publications and in standard works relating to New Zealand has been 
prepared by the Rev. H. J. Fletcher, and he proposes to publish the 
work, which will be of the greatest use to Polynesian students. An appeal 
for support has recently been issued, in which it is pointed out that the 
index cannot be printed unless a sufficient number of orders to cover the 
cost is received. The price is 15s., and orders should be sent to Rev. 
H. J. Fletcher, The Manse, Taupo. 
At a meeting of the Otago Institute held on the 10th September 
Mr, G. W. Howes, on behalf of Dr. Fulton, exhibited some twigs of a native 
tree which had been penetrated by a beetle-larva ( Aenome hirta). So 
far as known to the speaker this was the first time this pest had been found 
south of Sumner. Dr. Fulton had obtained the specimen from a garden 
in St. Clair, Dunedin. 
REVIEWS AND ABSTRACTS. 
The Food of Australian Birds: an Investigation into the Character of 
the Stomach and Crop Contents. A summary of work done by 
J. B. Cleland, J. H. Maiden, W. W. Froggatt, E. W. Ferguson, and 
C. T. Musson. Department of Agriculture , New South Wales, Science 
Bulletin No. 15, 112 pp., 1918. 
Attention has already been called in this Journal* to the desirability 
of the prosecution of economic ornithology in this country ; the paper 
under notice furnishes a useful object-lesson pointing in the same direction. 
With a view to estimating the part which birds might play in helping to 
control the blow-fly pest in sheep, as extensive an examination as possible 
was made in sheep-breeding districts of all birds which might play a 
possible part in this direction. These data and the information previously 
gained with regard to Australian birds in general have been tabulated and 
analysed, and the results published in this bulletin. They are of interest 
not only to breeders of sheep, but also to orchardists, grain-growers, and 
gardeners, as well as to those in charge of forestry operations. 
Some of the conclusions arrived at are of distinct interest to New 
Zealand. Thus the starling is indicted in rather severe terms. 
Summed up, it may be stated that the starling does marked harm to fruit-gardens 
and that it does some harm to crops, but that it does some good in destroying certain 
insect pests, such as cutworms, when these are present in abundance and perhaps other 
food is scarce. The starling has spread very extensively over Australia, and it is a 
prolific breeder. Moreover, it interferes with the breeding-places of many of our 
useful insectivorous birds. It is also so wily and hard to approach that it will never 
be possible to eliminate it from Australia, or even to diminish materially its numbers, 
whatever human means are adopted to attempt this. Its virtues are unquestionably 
less than its defects, and no encouragement whatever should be given to its appearance 
in any part of the country. On the other hand, any discouragement offered is likely 
to have little effect. 
* W. E. Collinge, The Food of British Wild Birds, this Journal, vol. 1, No. 2, 
pp. 67-69. 
