24 SPOLIA ZBYLANICA. 



E. V. Carey, Esq., Chairman of the United Planters' Association, 



Federated Mahiy States, to the Resident-General, 



Federated Malay States. 



Klang, Selangor, July 22, 1902. 

 Sir, — I HAVE the honour to report that during the recent severe 

 attack of caterpillars* on Bukit Raja estate some fortj- crows 

 assembled and helped in the destruction of both caterpillars and 

 chrysalids. 



You will agree with me that this is a very unusually large 

 number of these birds to be found in this country. 



2. About the year 1885 the Ceylon cinchona plantations were 

 devastated by a caterpillarf of the same family as that which has 

 so often severely attacked our coffee over here, and it is well 

 within the writer's memory that tens of thousands of crows came 

 to the rescue and practically annihilated the caterpillars. 



3. The Ceylon crow is a somewhat different bird to that found 

 in the Malay Peninsula, but I think there can be no doubt that 

 they would soon settle down over here if imported in sufficient 

 numbers ; they are the most useful of scavengers, and however 

 much their numbers increased, would do no harm. 



4. I would therefore suggest that overtures might be made to 

 the Ceylon Government for shipment to this country of a large 

 number of these birds, which could easily be collected if a small 

 sum for each good healthy specimen were offered. 



5. I believe that a fair proportion of the cost would be sub- 

 scribed by proprietors of estates, bat it is obvious that no overtures 

 on the part of private individuals would stand the same chance 

 of success as a representation from one Government to the other. 



6. Within my knowledge there are six different caterpillars, 

 attacking coffee. Para-rubber, Ficus elastica, cocoanuts, croton, 

 and castor oil, which might at one time become gravely epidemic. 

 All of these the crows would help to keep down, and I therefore 

 earnestly beg your kind consideration of my suggestion. 



1 have, &c., 

 E. V. CAREY. 



Report of the Director of the Colombo Museum to the 

 Hon. the Colonial Secretary. 

 I UNDERSTAND that the principal point upon which I have to 

 report relates to the feasibility of transport and possibility of 

 acclimatization of Ceylon crows in the Malay States. 



* Mr, E. E. Green says that the caterpillars referred to are the larvae of Cepho- 

 nodcs hijlas, the clear- winged hawk moth. 



t The caterpillar of the oleander moth (^Dnphnix tterii). Both Ccphonodex and 

 Daphvix belong to the family of the Sphingidje. 



