ex REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



as "jackdaws," which have been slaughtered in great numbers for the 

 millinery trade, are particularly valuable in the rice fields and cabbage 

 growing districts, feeding extensively on the crayfish, which cut the 

 rice, and on the destructive cabbage worm. In other investigations of 

 the food habits of birds special attention has been given the thrushes, 

 titmice, sparrows, orioles, woodpeckers, fl}' catchers, and swallows. The 

 growing interest in economic ornithology is shown by the rapidly 

 increasing demand for literature on this subject, to partly meet which 

 a number of bulletins on food habits of birds have been published and 

 distributed. The edition of one of these, entitled " Some common birds 

 in relation to agriculture," has already reached 220,000 copies. 



WORK UNDER THE LACET ACT. 



In addition to its other duties the Biological Survey is charged with 

 general supervision of matters relating to game protection and 

 introduction. It publishes bulletins on this subject and on laws gov- 

 erning the transportation and sale of game, digests of State game 

 laws, and so on, and aids in every way possible the preservation of 

 native birds and game. In carrying out the provisions of the Lacey 

 Act the Department has received the active cooperation of three other 

 Executive Departments — Treasury, Interior, and Justice; of several 

 railroad and express companies; and of many State officials and indi- 

 viduals. A system of permits for the importation of foreign wild 

 animals and birds has been successfully put into operation, and pro- 

 vision made for inspection at six of the most important ports of entry. 

 During the year the number of permits issued was 186, covering the 

 entry of about 350 mammals and nearly 10,000 bird's. In order to 

 avoid undue annoyance to importers I have extended the list of species 

 which can be imported without permits to include a number of well- 

 known animals intended for exhibition purposes. It is gratifying to 

 state that the law has accomplished its main purpose in preventing the 

 introduction of the mongoose and other injurious species, and has also 

 brought to light several facts of interest. A considerable trade in 

 live pheasants is carried on with Canada; thousands of Chinese quail 

 are imported alive at San Francisco; and cage birds of many species 

 are imported from Germany, China, Japan, Australia, and Mexico. 

 The danger of introducing injurious species is verj^great, since several 

 thousand birds are frequently imported in a single consignment; pro- 

 tection lies in careful inspection at the port of entry. During the 

 coming j^ear the inspection service will not onl}^ be improved but will 

 be extended to Hawaii. Provision should be made for placing this 

 service on a permanent basis and for maintaining it in the most efficient 

 manner. 



INTERSTATE COMMERCE IN GAME. 



Numerous violations of the law regulating interstate commerce in 

 game have been reported, and in many instances the Department has 



