177 



691. -BIRDS USEFUL, DESTRUCTIVE OR 

 OBJECTIONABLE ? 



The European Rook or Crow* has little in common with the 

 "Corbeau" or "John Crow" of the West Indies, but similar 

 discussions arise as to their usefulness, ami scientific men are aboul 

 equally divided in opinion as to their usefulness and their destructive- 

 ness. A report published by the German Agricultural Society 

 contains an account of an interesting experiment conducted with 

 a view to ascertain what amount of food was consumed by the 

 European and what was its character for the purpose of ascertaining 

 whether the popular ideas as to the habits of the bird were supported 

 by sufficient evidence to determine whether or no, the birds were 

 friends or enemies. The result of the enquiry has been that the 

 evidence in favour of usefulness was considerably the strongest and 

 the author of the enquiry concludes as follows : The " investigation 

 shows that croiv* and rooks are on the whole, more useful than 

 harmful and especially in the breeding season. There can however be 

 no doubt that when the birds at times occur in excessive numbers, and 

 where damage becomes serious their numbers should be reduced''' 



This verdict has considerable bearing on a recent decision to 

 exterminate, or decrease the number, of the scavenger vultures 

 (Cathartes atratus) which are common to Trinidad. 



In "this case perhaps the decision as to numbers is more applicable 

 than that as to damage, but it is hoped our City fathers will not be 

 moved by fear or favour, and will not set down naught in malice 

 against a bird, which, whatever else he may be, certainly serves them 

 without fee or reward as an efficient and faithful Sanitary Inspector, 

 capable of detecting breaches of regulations far quicker than many 

 of the officers now charged with the duty. 



692.-METHODS OF TAPPING RUBBER TREES AND 



COLLECTING LATEX. 



A visit of inspection which I recently paid to the various rubber 

 plantations in the Federated Malay States, shewed me in a way that 

 figures and statistics could not have done the amount of labour and 

 capital that has been spent in this industry, and brought very vividly 

 home to me the great value of the plantations to the country and gave 

 me some slight idea of the wealth of return immediately coming to 

 those who have interests in these estates. But it also demonstrated 

 the state of chaos that exists in all that concerns the practical har- 

 vesting of the rubber. That this should be so is inevitable, and at it 

 no surprise can be felt when it is remembered that as an agricultural 

 industry rubber growing is in its infancy, and that there is no accu- 

 mulated experience gained by planters in the past to serve as guide. 

 It is true that different experiments on a small scale have been made, 

 and small amounts of rubber turned out and exported, but no large 

 estate has yet been thoroughly tapped and no method at present in 



* "Enquiry into Food of Rooks and Crows in Germany by Dr. Schech."— (Journal, 

 of Board of Agriculture, London). 



