Vol. IV. No. 92. 



THE AGRIUULTIJRAL NEWS. 



333 



PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 



Under the title of ' Protect our Birds and benefit 

 the Planters,' the Leeward Islandti Free Press 

 (Dominica, Se):)tember 30) has the following article : — ■ 



It is deeply to lie regretted that tlie agriculturists nf 

 Dominica and ntlier West India Islands have not yet awakened 

 to the innnense benefit or detriment which the protection or 

 destruction nf hiids renders their crnps. In a tropical island of 

 small area the influence of the birds in checking the ravages of 

 injurious insects is far greater than in the north for various 

 reasons. Whereas in the tropics insects breed and flourish 

 throughout the year, thus increasing at a remarkable rate, in 

 colder climates many are destroj'ed by the rigours of winter. 

 In addition, the set-back they receive during that season in 

 northern climates necessitates a comjiaratively long period in 

 which to receiver vitality and increase sufficiently to prove 

 injurious in the early spring, at which seasim vegetation is most 

 readily and seriously injured by them. In the second place, 

 insects are notablj- scarce in the heavy forests which cover such 

 a large portion of Dominica, and insectivorous birds are therefore 

 compelled to seek a livelihood in the open, and on cultivated 

 land. 



As the number of bii-ds in Dominica is [in ipi irtionately very 

 large, as compared with the area of the island, the birds render 

 far greater service than in other localities. This very abundance 

 in the vicinity of villages and plantations renders their destruc- 

 tion more easy, and for that very reason stringent laws should 

 be enacted and enforced protecting the native birds. 



IMany peojjle are under the impressii.m that only insectivor- 

 ous birds are beneficial, but this is far from lieing the case. 

 Such species as the Grassquits, hically known as ' Zee-zee-zeb ' 

 are exceedingly beneficial, as they feed almost exclusively upon 

 the seeds of grasses and weeds and do much to check the spread 

 and increase of these nuisances. 



Other species such as the Grosbeak, Peremiir, etc., are 

 principally fruit eaters and destroy far more than they actually 

 require for food. Although, as a general rule, it is unwise to 

 upset the balance of nature in any way, such harmful species 

 should be unpn itected, and the planter or fruit grower should be 

 at liberty to destroy them whenever caught injuring his crops, 

 unless their destructive character is more than ofi'-set by their 

 song or plumage. 



Certain other species such as the local Cuckoo or ' Cuckoo- 

 mioc,' which for some unknown reason is not protected, should 

 be encouraged in every way, for unlike its European cousin, the 

 native Cuckoo does not lay its eggs in the nests of other birds 

 iir destroy tlieir eggs or yiung, but renders an enormous service 

 by its insatiaVjle appetite for cockroaches, caterpillars, and other 

 injuriiius and undesirable insects. 



Even the connnon ' Malfine ' does far more good than 

 harm, for although it may occasionally vary its diet with 

 young fowl, its jirincipial food consists of mice and rats, while it 

 is always ready tci pounce upon locusts, caterpillars, or grass- 

 lioppers. A study of the stomach ciintents of this much- 

 maligned bird will at once convince any one of the truth of this 

 statement— a fact that has long been recognized in the I'nited 

 States, where tlie subject of pri:iper Ijird-protection has Ijeen 

 deeply studied, with the result that nearly all hawks and owls 

 are n(jw rigorously prc;itected there. 



The present game laAvs of Dominica are exceedingly 

 primitive and behiiid the times, and a law that permits the 

 slaughter of sucli valuable and charming songsters as the Grive, 

 Grosgrive, etc., even during a few months of the year, should 

 be immediately repealed. 



Even the ' Pipiree,' than which there is no greater insect 

 enemy, is wantonly killed Ijy the natives and used as food, 

 although the amount of meat on its meagre body is almost nil. 



Much more damage to the birds is done by the common 

 practice of snaring and trapping by boys than by actual 

 shooting. I have seen as many as fifty ' Sucriers ' and 

 ' Zee-zee-zeb ' captured by a couple of boys in a single day, only 

 to be played with and tortured for a few hours and then cast 

 ■aside, ciijjpled .and dj-ing. 



Such offences slniuld be severely dealt with, and the mere 

 possession of snares, traps, or birds in captivity should be made 



an offence. Although the number of strictly Dominica birds, 

 or birds which occur on the island througliout the year, is 

 comparatively small, numbering only about fiftj' species, yefc 

 large numbers of migratory species arrive from the American 

 continent in the fall, and many of these remain throughout the 

 winter months. 



Coming, as they do, at a season when insects are very 

 numerous and witli a craving hunger boi-n of their long flight 

 across the sea, they ravenously devour every insect they see and 

 in a few days destroy more than the native .sjiecies do in mcjnths. 

 On one occasion a flock of American Redstarts, locally knowni as 

 'Chats,' visited the garden of Di'. Nicholls in Roseau where 

 they remained for a whole day, and during that time entirely 

 destroyed a scale blight which was then infesting the Rubiaceou.s 

 plants. 



Such foreign invasions are to be heartily welcomed by the 

 Dominicans, and ever3' ett'ort should l)e made to render the stay 

 of the feathered invaders pleasant and provide them with a safe 

 refuge. Birds are very quick to appreciate a spot where they 

 are protected, and will invariably visit such localities to the 

 exclusion of others less fa\'oui'able to their welfare. 



This fact is well illustrated in Bermuda, where immense 

 numbers of immigrants arrive annually, altlu.iugh far out of the 

 usual course of bird migration. 



In certain private lands in Florida and otiier southern states 

 also, the immigrants arrive and spend the winter ; wherea.s 

 neighbouring lands in the vicimty are almost deserted by them. 



If the Dominicans must shoot game of some sort on the 

 island, can they not be satisfied with Ramier and Fcrdrix: 

 among the birds ? 



Even the Parrots and Ciceroo should be guarded zealously, 

 ere they, like the Diablotin, are exterminated and the 

 D(jminicans find too late that they can no longer boast that their 

 island is the home of the largest pairot in the world. 



The following list w-ill serve to aid the planter in protecting 

 birds which i\ill benefit him and his crops : — 



Bi'iiejictid. 

 Crabier Malfine Cuckoomioc 



Owl Hirondelle Pijjiree 



Gobmouche Chewech Titine 



Pia-pia Chat Trembler 



Perrovanter Mauvais Rossingol 



Zee-zee-zeb Grive Grosgrive 



La belle Grostete, Cheweck tetelong, Siffleur IMontagne. 

 IiiJKvioiis. 

 Small Hawks Perenoii- Meresang. 



( ; rosbeak 

 Htiiiales-' hot nut ixtrthulurl y bciifjiuitd. 

 Sea birds Ramier Tourterelle 



Humming-birds Perdrix (Jrtolan 



Kingfishers Gaulins Becasse 



Parrot Ciceroo Pericli 



Sucrier 



WEST INDIAN AGRICULTURAL CON- 

 FERENCE, 1906. 



The Barbados Advocate of October 11 has the 

 following note in reference to the proposal to hold 

 the next West Indian Agricultural Conference in 

 Jamaica : — 



It would be a decided misfortune if the 1906 Agri- 

 cidtural Conference is not held in Jamaica, for, apart from 

 the results usually expected to flow from such a meeting, 

 the delegates from the various colonies would be afforded 

 some idea of what the tourist trade in Jamaica means and 

 the measures taken to provide for it ; and they would be in 

 a position to report to their various Governments and to 

 persons interested, on the advisability of taking steps to turn 

 the tide in these directions and to provide better facilities 

 for tourists than are now afforded. 



