OTES 



ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY. 



Mr. F. V. Theobald, vice-principal of the S. E. Agricultural 

 College, contributes to " Science Progress " for October 

 a long article on the subject of " Economic Ornithology in 

 Relation to Agriculture, Horticulture, and Forestry," which 

 should be carefully read by all \\ho are interested in the very 

 difficult problem of bird -protection. 



Though Mr. Theobald puzzles us more than once by 

 contradictory statements, and though in effect he tells us that 

 our actual kno\^'ledge of the problems of economic ornithology 

 is miserably small, there are many extremely interesting 

 points in his paper. He insists, for example, that but for 

 Rooks, Jackdaws, Starlings, Plovers, and Gulls, the white 

 grubs, wireworms, leather-jackets, etc., would increase in such 

 enormous numbers that our pasture-lands aa ould be destroyed 

 Avholesale. That no man has devised, or is hkely to devise, 

 any method of dealing with these insect pests, whereby the 

 services of these birds may be dispensed with. Such harm 

 as these birds may do at certain times of the year is, in short, 

 more than paid for by the benefits they confer at other times. 



A ruthless war has been urged by some against Titmice, 

 yet Mr. Theobald contends that the good these birds do in 

 devouring the mussel-scale, codling-moth, woolly-aphis, etc., 

 is incalculable. The attacks of Blue Tits on the buds of the 

 monarch plum are, he says, instigated by their desire to get 

 at the mites, Eriophytes pruni, which hibernate therein. 

 The bimches of unopened apple and pear blossom which 

 these birds peck contain insect larvce, and the same reason, he 

 suggests, prompts them in their attacks on the blossom of 

 currants and plums. He contends tliat the present A\holesale 

 destruction of the eggs of the Lapwing calls for legislative 

 interference, as the bird is extremely useful to agriculturists, 

 and in this we agree with him. On some estates, where the 

 collection of these eggs is carried out with discretion, no harm 

 is caused. But this is rarely done ; and the present system 

 of exposing boiled eggs for sale renders such isolated regulations 

 as may obtain nugatory. 



The Jay is to be protected because of the toll it levies on 

 the eggs of small birds, such as Finches, and the Tluush-tribe. 



Some fifteen species are placed by Mr. Theobald on the 

 " Black List." These are the Hooded Crow, Woodpigeon, 



