The importance of a rational study of this question of the protection of birds, with particular regard to their economic significance in given districts, has been demonstrated in Southern Victoria in a remarkable manner, where great mistakes have been made by settlers who seem to have been desirous of encouraging our own British birds about their homesteads. To take steps which resulted in the nesting of a colony of Fieldfares in a district where they had so far been unknown to breed, as Baron von Berlepsch did, was most advantageous, since the Fieldfares drove the murderous Shrike from the field. Again, by fixing up artificial nesting-boxes, made according to this great naturalist’s pattern--on stakes placed in certain districts of North Germany, ninety per cent. of these became inhabited by Titmice, until that time strangers to the region, where, however, their services were most desirable. On the other hand, Greenfinches, which were introduced into Southern Victoria by Australian settlers twenty-five years ago, took possession of the pine trees, which were the only trees that afforded enough shade and cover, and were the nearest approach there to their usual [Illustration: A FEEDING-PLACE FOR WET WEATHER. As a rule only feed the birds when weather reasons prevent them procuring their own food.] nesting-places; and they drove away from the district the useful little native Tits, which feed among these trees and have their own appointed work on them. A correspondent of a Geelong paper writes again of the charming sight of a number of English Blackbirds hopping about on a lawn beneath the spraying water-hose, and busily feeding on the worms. Yet this same bird is becoming a great nuisance to the fruit growers there. This is also the case in New Zealand, where large prices are now being offered for dead Blackbirds and their eggs. The Starling, again, which is so useful in our own pasture lands, has been known to clear out a vineyard in Southern Victoria in a single night. Thrushes are looked upon there as suspects, but opinions are divided as to this bird. We have already written about the Quails, imported into the canefields of Hawaii, to be in their turn exterminated by the mongoose, who had been brought there to eat up the devastating rats. To sum up the whole matter, interference with the balance of Nature must only be undertaken with knowledge and discretion; and those who undertake it must study, and profit by the recorded experiences of our accredited guides in this direction. IN CONCLUSION.