E. A. ORMEROD—IRRETENTION OF INSECT-INJURY; 
3 
drought for instance, or sudden heavy rainfall after dry hot weather, 
—or long-continued rainfall affecting the state of plant-health, and 
the state of the ground, all have effects that we understand and 
can work on, but there is a great deal as to the reasons for insect- 
appearance in large or small quantities that as yet we have not 
got the clue to, and it is this variable amount of attack that 
makes the great difficulty in calling in the aid of what may be 
considered our first natural helpers, the insectivorous birds. There 
is no doubt that keeping up what is called the average amount 
is desirable, and in fact necessary ; but when we come to inviting 
a large increase in numbers, or to the introduction of species which 
either for variety, or in emergency, are partially graminivorous 
in their diet, it is to be feared that we may be doing ourselves 
a mischief. So long as there is a great amount of insect-presence, 
so long do the extra number of these birds of mixed diet help us, 
but failing the insect-food they are very apt to prey on the crops 
instead, and may turn out a still greater evil. 
It would be a great help for practical purposes, if we had a short 
account in plain form of the habits and the diet in ordinary circum¬ 
stances and emergencies of our common insectivorous birds, together 
with the localities which they frequent. Many feed partially on 
insects, or, as the description often runs, “ on insects, worms, and 
slugs,” but it would be very useful to know which kinds in time 
of scarcity make up their scanty meals from our crops, and which 
turn to animal matter such as mice or the smaller Mammalia, 
carrion or offal, small fish, and the shell-fish of our ponds and 
streams, or the animal life of the sea-shore. Some of the gregarious 
birds that frequent both the sea-shore and the estuaries of our 
larger rivers are useful by coming occasionally, and when attracted 
by a great amount of insect-presence, far inland, but not burdening 
us with their keep when not serving us. Several kinds of sea-gulls 
are thus of use by following the plough on land infested with large 
grubs, especially those of the cockchafer; and I have notes sent in 
this year of the serviceableness of the black-headed gull, Larus 
ridibundus (sometimes known as the Scoulton gull), in destroying 
caterpillars and various kinds of moths during a bad attack on the 
oaks at Tullamore, King’s County, Ireland. 
The lapwing, which frequents marshy places as well as wild 
heaths and hill-sides, helps us by feeding on insects in their various 
stages, and was notably useful last year in the attacks of the 
larvae of the daddy-long-legs, or Tipulce. 
Starlings also will most conveniently undertake, so to say, a 
temporary piece of work, such as clearing saw-fly larvae, and 
though in default of insect-food they will eat berries or grain, and 
are sometimes injurious from the vast numbers in which they 
collect bearing down their roosting-places, yet near the sea-shore 
they will turn in times of scarcity to the supplies of animal food 
that they can gather on the beach. 
The insectivorous night or twilight fliers, such as the tawny 
owl and the night-jar, are very serviceable; so also is the cuckoo, 
