BROOKLINE PROTECTS BIRDS 



793 



assistance in eradicating it and 

 $50,000.00 was voted for that purpose. 

 During the next ten years $1,000,000 

 was spent in the fight by the State and 

 much more by private individuals. 

 The year 1905 saw the brown-tail moth, 

 which had lately been planted in Somer- 

 ville, also overrunning the country 

 and $300,000.00 was appropriated to 

 exterminate the two. By this time 

 the gipsy moth had spread into Rhode 

 Island. New Hampshire and Connecti- 



cut and the brown-tails were following. 

 Much money is still being spent to 

 destroy them. 



The insects which have been imported 

 grew much more rapidly here than in 

 their native country; for their natural 

 enemies are left behind, our birds have 

 to learn to eat them; and everything 

 that grows is food for them. The 

 yearly loss to the farmers is very great. 

 x\s long ago as 1868 it was estimated 

 that the countrv suffered to the extent 



Stuffed Specimens of Land and Water Birds 



shown at the brookline, mass., exhibit. there are also portions of trees showing nests of the tent 

 caterpillar, gypsy and browntail moths, leopard moth and woodlice and samples of the beneficial 

 work of woodpeckers and flickers 



