CEYLON CROWS TN THE MALAY PENINSULA. 25 



2. I think it would be comparatively easy to collect a large 

 quantity of living crows here. 



3. It would be necessary to construct an aviary for their 

 reception and temporary storage. 



4. They would of course have to be fed. 



5. It would be of the nature of an experiment to ascertain how 

 they behave in captivity. 



6. From the analogy of other cases it may be said that it is quite 

 probable, but not certain before trial, that they would accustom 

 themselves to their new surroundings in the Malay States. 



7. Their homing instincts appear to be strongly developed. 



8. I have not been able to find any record of the visitation of 

 caterpillars in the Ceylon cinchona plantations about the year 

 1885 



9. There are many caterpillars which are obnoxious to birds. 



10. In the report on the Java Cinchona Plantations for 1883 

 (extracted in the Tropical Agriculturist, Vol. IV., 1885, p. 378) 

 concerning the injuries inflicted by Helopeltis antonii and the 

 ravages of a caterpillar, it is stated that " in regard to both, there 

 seems to be but one remedy, the constant search for, capture, and 

 destruction of the pestiferous insects." 



11. If the proposed acclimatization be persevered in, I think it 

 would be well to send over a small experimental batch of Ceylon 

 crows to find out how they support the voyage, whether they would 



eat the caterpillars if offered to them; and eventually to 



let them go free in a circumscribed area and note as far as possible 

 their subsequent behaviour. 



12. It is well known that the introduction of exotic species of 

 animals* and plants, although frequently beneficial, is sometimes 

 attended by serious consequences, disturbing the natural equi- 

 librium of a country in a deplorable manner. 



ARTHUR WILLEY, 

 August 19, 1902, Director, Colombo Museum. 



The Resident-General, Federated Malay States, to the 

 Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Ceylon. 



Resident-General's Office, Taiping, 

 October 1, 1902. 

 Sir, — I AM directed by the Resident-General to acknowledge the 

 receipt of your letter of the 29th August last, with its enclosure, 

 regarding the importation of crows from Ceylon to the Federated 



* Examples of introduced animals which have multiplied beyond bounds are 

 afforded by the rabbit pest in Australia, the mongoose in Jamaica, and the English 

 sparrow in the United States of America. — A. W. 



