SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
DESTRUCTION OF BIRD LIFE. 
Captain S. A. White, who was recently invited by the Commissioners 
of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Areas to make investigations and sug- 
gestions concerning the bird life of the district, has furnished a report 
_ in which he comments upon the ruthless destruction of bird life. The 
visit was made towards the end of a long period of dry weather, and 
consequently many birds had left the district, while, on the other hand, 
some species had been driven into the cultivated areas from the surround- 
ing dry country in unusually large numbers. “ These probably attacked 
fruit,” he stated, “which under normal conditions they would never 
have done.” Observations carried out under those circumstances may, 
he considers, have good effects, as they may be the means of protécting 
some of the native birds which are doing much good during ordinary 
seasons, but which in times of drought may levy a light toll for services 
rendered. Some years previously Captain White travelled through the 
Yanco district, and found bird life very plentiful, the more useful 
species predominating. On this second occasion the absence of the 
majority of birds was very striking, and was no doubt due to the indis- 
criminate clearing of the natural timber and undergrowth. “ Although,” 
he writes, “many of our useful native birds are quite willing to work all 
day amongst the orchards and crops of man, still they require some of 
their native cover, and haunts to repair to for the night, and to nest in 
and bring up their young. This is very noticeable in many of our so- 
called migratory birds, such as the White-shouldered Caterpillar-eater 
(Lalage tricolour), Wood Swallows (Antimus). These birds visit the 
district under observation in great numbers at spring time. They nest 
in the native pine tree (Callitris), and bring out their broods when 
eaterpillars and other grubs are most numerous upon the irrigation area, 
and doing great damage to vegetation. It is a certainty that if reserva- 
tions are not made and some of the native timber saved this army of 
unpaid workers will not stay to rear their young, but pass on to more 
congenial situations, and the irrigation areas will suffer a loss difficult 
to estimate—it being so far-re‘ching. Th’s applies to many other 
species, and every inducement should be given for these birds to remain 
as long as possible in the district. During the visit 5,054 birds were 
observed; they comprised 60 species. Forty-eight species are without 
doubt beneficial, eight species are partly so, three species are injurious, 
one specie (Emu) neutral. After the taking of a systematical census 
of the area in question, and carefully checking same, the approximate 
number of birds per square mile is 404, made up as follows:—46 
injurious, 86 partly injurious, 322 beneficial.” : 
: -~ 
. 452 
