BUREAU OF BIOLOGIC.yi- SURVEY. 287 



was one of the best methods, supplemented by occasional aerial bombs 

 that cxj^loded among the birds and frightened tliem us tlie}' rose from 

 the rice. As these ducks are protected under the migratory -bird 

 treaty act, a special order was necessary granting permission to rice 

 growers to kill them before the opening of the hunting season on 

 October 16; after that date rice growers Avere permitted to shoot at 

 night in fields still containing rice. These measures resulted in a 

 saving of not less than $125,000 worth of grain, while the number of 

 ducks destroj'^ed was nominal. 



In Xovember investigation was made of conditions in the rice 

 district of Arkansas. Owing to unfavorable fall weather, probably 

 two-thirds of the rice crop was unharvested as late as November 25. 

 Migratory, ducks, mainly mallards, were then arriving from the 

 north and threatening serious damage. While the hunting season 

 had opened, it was necessary to guard the fields at night, so that a 

 special order had to be made under the migratory-bird treaty-act 

 regulations, allowing rice growers to kill ducks at night. 



MEADOWLARKS AND SPROUTING CORN. 



The relation of the meadowlark to sprouting grain was a subject 

 of field studj^ in South Carolina. Reports received from most of the 

 South Atlantic and Gulf States indicated that the food habits of the 

 bird in the South Avere quite different from those it possesses in the 

 North and that it was inflicting severe damage on sproutmg corn. 

 During March and April it was found that migrating flocks of these 

 birds were spending a large part of their time in cornfields, feeding 

 on the sweet germinating kernels, secured either by pulling up the 

 sprouts or by making conical borings down to the grain. To afford 

 farmers proper relief permission will have to be given them in cer- 

 tain areas to drive the birds from the fields with shotguns if neces- 

 sary. 



Similar complaints against mourning doves were not substantiated. 



DESTRUCTIVENESS OF EAGLES. 



From year to year definite and authentic reports are being received 

 on the destruction of young fawns and wild turkeys, and even of 

 young calves in some parts of the West, by golden eagles. Similar 

 reports of the habits of both the golden and the bald eagle in rela- 

 tion to game come from Alaska. It is evident that these powerful 

 birds are seriously destructive at times and their unlimited protec- 

 tion is probably not warranted. 



IMMUNITY OF QUAIL AND GROUSE TO STRYCHNINE POISONING. 



Important evidence has been secured regarding the comparative 

 immunity of quail to strychnine poisoning. Field observations and 

 feeding experiments conducted in California showed that one valley, 

 quail can eat grain containing enough stiychnine to kill 12 ground 

 squirrels without showing the slightest ill effect from the poison. A 

 numl)er of similar experiments on a mountain quail and a bob-Avhite 

 gaAe like results. The information tlius gained aa^III tend to allay 

 fears in certain quarters that poisoning campaigns against ground 

 squirrels result disastrously to these valuable game birds. luA'cstiga- 

 tions in SaskatcheAA'an. Canada, have proA-ed that grouse are equally 

 immune to strychnine poisoning. 



