146 On Birds of Paradise in the West Indies.


former years and where I grow a few vegetables for my own use,

the Island is kept in its virgin state.


The apodas have been growing a deal and are very strong on

the wing, healthy and lively, but very shy. There is no change

of plumage yet nor signs of mating, building nests, dancing, etc.,

etc., but at the least appearance of any change I shall report

immediately.


It is my firm belief that, if the birds are not molested in

any way and care taken to have water when need arises, they

will breed in time and prosper well. There is no fear of the

birds leaving Little Tobago, as they never take long flights, but

keep mostly hid in the foliage of the highest trees.


There is nothing else important enough to report. If I

am in need or want of anything respecting the birds or myself

Mr. H. H. Tucker, a planter on the mainland, is always kindly

disposed to help immediately in every way.”


Robert Herold.


Mr. Herold has since sent monthly reports, but nothing

new or interesting, except that he has noticed some of the apodas

have begun to dance and that all the birds are in a healthy

condition.


[As a general rule the acclimatisation and importation of natural

species into parts of the world other than that to which they rightly belong

cannot be too strongly deprecated. Instances of the harmful effects of such

importations like the rabbits in Australia, Sparrows in America and Mon¬

geese into Jamaica are numerous and well known. Sir Wm. Ingram’s

experiment stands on quite a different footing. Little Tobago is a wild aud

uninhabited Island standing by itself in the ocean, it has no commercial

industries to upset, nor has it any special indigenous native fauna to lose.

The large Birds of Paradise are being terribly harassed in their native

country, and it is by no means improbable that unless legislation intervenes

their total extermination will only be a matter of a few years. Under these

circumstances Sir William’s public spirited action in attempting to preserve

for posterity one of the most beautiful of living creatures is much to be

commended. Apart from this, there is another and scientific aspect to the

question—our knowledge of the evolution of geographic races and the

time taken for them to evolve is practically nil. It is extremely unlikely

that if these birds thrive and increase they will in course of years remain

exactly similar to what they now are. Differences of tint and possibly of

structure are sooner or later almost bound to occur. In this case we have

full details of the time aud circumstances under which these birds were



