14:0 Occa.'iional J^otes. 



Guiuea Fowl, 81b. 



Paauw, 59. 



Wild Duck, 130. 



Geese, 33. 



Small Birds, 22,626. 

 The item Small Birds would probably include the Coqui 

 Francolin, as well as the Sand-Grouse, which is, of course, 

 extremely abundant in that neighbourhood. 



(16) Introduction of English Starling. — The ' Trans- 

 vaal Agricultural Journal ' of Oct. 1906 contains a letter 

 (vide p. 263) from Messrs. Peterson and Techow, of Krugers- 

 dorp, advocating the introduction of the English Starling 

 (Sturnus vulgaris) into the Transvaal, for the purpose of 

 checking the havoc caused in vegetable gardens, and espe- 

 cially to turnips and cabbages, by the well-known pest the 

 bug known as the Bagrada Bug. The writers, who say 

 that they are AustraUans, state that this bird lives entirely 

 on insects, and that they have had experience of the benefit 

 which the introduction of the Starling has effected in 

 Australia by the destruction oE noxious caterpillars and 

 insects. 



In answer to their letter Mr. C. W. Howard, the Assistant 

 Entomologist of the Transvaal Agricultural Department, 

 deprecates the suggestion, pointing out that the Starling, 

 since its introduction into New Zealand, has become a well 

 recognized pest, and that the numbers of this Bug can be 

 kept in check by proper attention to the culture of the 

 plants which it attacks. 



Mr. Howard also refers to the danger of the introduction 

 of species of birds into a new country where it is impossible 

 to foretell how they may alter their habits under new 

 economic conditions, and refers in particular to the disastrous 

 result of the importation of the English Sparrow into the 

 United States of America. 



Mr. Howard also states that both the English Starlinor 

 and the English Sparrow have already been introduced into 



