Dkummond. — On Introduced Birds. 243 



farmers with a Home experience say that its introduction may 

 prove to be one of the mistakes of acclimatisation. 



Nothing is said against the AustraUan magpie, which is some- 

 times described as a useful immigrant. It has taken up its 

 residence in a number of districts, where it seems to thrive very 

 well Many years ago a pair of these birds came over to Stream- 

 lands, in the Rodney County, from the Island of Kawau, when 

 it was owned by Sir George Grey. They nested in a kauri-tree 

 about a hundred yards from a settler's house, and from that 

 spot they spread throughout the whole county. They have 

 now completely disappeared from Streamlands. 



There is hardly any limit to the good words said of the 

 starling. It is frequently described as the only introduced bird 

 worth having. It is found in nearly all parts of the colony, and 

 its arrival in a new district is welcomed by all who aie engaged 

 in agriculture. Large numbers of farmers erect nesting-boxes in 

 order to encourage it to come about their farms. Besides eating 

 insects, it does a great deal of good by destroying larks' eggs 

 and eating the .ticks on sheep. Many farmers look upon this 

 bird as being the only true insectivorous bird introduced into 

 this colony. Somewhat alarming stories are told by quite a 

 large number of correspondents, however, about the starling 

 having taken to devouring fruit and even grain. Mr. Edgar 

 Stead confirms the report in regard to this bird's fruit-eating 

 proclivities. In a conversation with me he predicted that it will 

 become one of the greatest nuisances orchardists and gardeners 

 have ever known. I have no absolute proof that it has actually 

 taken to eating grain, but this is a phase of the starling's life 

 that is well worth watching. If even the starling turns from 

 insects to fruit and grain, it may be asked if there are anv 

 birds that are likely to remain loyal to their reputations as 

 insect-eaters exclusively. It may be pointed out here that 

 the starling has given rise to something more substantial than 

 suspicion in Australia, where the gravest possible charges are 

 made against it, and these charges are evidently based upon 

 evidence that cannot be discounted. According to the report 

 of the American Consul at Melbourne, starlings have increased 

 to myriads in Australia, and they have become very injurious 

 to the fruit-crops, so that the regulations passed for their pro- 

 tection have been repealed, and it is urged that steps should be 

 taken for their systematic destruction. " The fruit destroyed 

 by them," the Consul says, " includes peaches, pears, cherries, 

 apples, figs, apricots, plums, grapes, and strawberries. Both 

 vine- and fruit-growing are seriously threatened if the pest is 

 not suppressed. As many as ten cases of apples have been de- 

 stroyed by this bird in less than half an hour>" Another charge 



