SPARROWS AND CRASSHOPPERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 287, 28 August 1908, Page 3

SPARROWS AND CRASSHOPPERS.

NEW NATURAL ENEMY APPEARS.

• Between little owls and big hawks' and a new bird-killer that has now appeared ,in Australia, it would seem that, the ordinary small bird is going f!o have a terrible' struggle for existence, Tho "litt-lo owls" 1 :havo already been established in New Zealand; and the hawks and moreporks we havfe had always with us. The new bird-killer; which has now been noticed in Australia, kills'only sparrows, grasshoppers, and small/insects. Mr. A. J. Taylor, of Wheatacr6,/m the Condobolin district of New SotithWales, first refuted tho cannibal habits of this bird, which he said was "a laTge bird, blue .in colour, with black head, and very destructive 1 to sparrows. In fact, sinco tho arrival of theso aerial : cannibals, sparrows are, practically an unknown quantity about Wheatacre. There are about four of them'/in a flock, and they keep together. They balanco in tho air like a hawk. ' They keep after tho grasshopper, but they aro death _ on. the sparrows. The other birds aro not'frightened of them. They aro very quick on tho wing, and. when flying, spread out the tail." Tho birds were afterwards identified as tho ground cuckoo-shrike (Ptoropodocys phasianella). It is about tho si 7/0 of a small pigeon, but, moro slender. It measures fourteen inches from tip of bill to end of tail. Commonly thoy do more running than flyiug. Insects are their chief food, and they are not known to do damago.