40 B.C. Entomological Society. 



cause to change my opinion of this bird, for it now piclis boles in apples, pears, and 

 strawberries, and causes a considerable amount of damage." 



Mr. Colliuge. however, speaks in favour of the blue-tit in siiite of all that has 

 been chronicled against it, although he arrives at this conclusion by balancing its 

 good and its evil deeds. This is all very well for the ordinary farmer, but it is cold 

 comfort for the fruit-grower. 



From the above it will be seen that there is a- chance of the skylark, linnet, and 

 lilue-tit being injurious to the farmer, and the general opinion in all countries where 

 the acclimatization of foreign birds and animals has been attempted is that it is 

 not wise to Introduce any birds or animals of whose characters there is the slightest 

 suspicion. Personally. I think it very unwise to introduce any seed-eating bii'd, such 

 as the goldfinch and linnet, and I cannot see the object of introducing blue-tits Into 

 this country where we have several closely allied species of the same genus (Parus) — 

 namely, the chickadee, already resident in enormous numbers in this Province. 



In order to obtain further information on this subject, I wrote to Mr. J. Lewis 

 Bonhote, secretary of the British Ornithologists' Union, a well-known authority on 

 birds, asking for his opinion on the advisability of importing these birds into British 

 Columbia. The following is Mr. Bonhote's reply : " Re the importation of the birds 

 you mention, I am strongly against any such practice. Nature is so carefully 

 balanced that one can never tell how far-reaching may be the effect of importation ; 

 in most cases, if not in all, where the imported species have thriven, the results 

 have been bad, and the useful economic purposes for which the introduction was 

 made have not been successful and many harmless and useful indigenous species 

 killed off. To attempt, therefore, such a dangerous experiment for mere testhetic 

 jjurposes is, I should say, to run far too great a risk, and I would certainly advise 

 you to oppose the suggestion as strongly as you can. To take the actual species you 

 mention, it is difficult without knowing the country to give any definite advice; 

 seed-eaters (goldfinch and linnet) are always risky, as, although in England those 

 birds feed chiefly on the seeds of weeds in uncultivated districts, yet, if the.y did not 

 find suitable weeds in Canada, they would soon turn their attention to the cultivated 

 grain; where mustard is grown in any quantity, as in the fens of Cambridgeshire, 

 the linnets do considerable damage. The robin is practically harmless, but he is a 

 terrible fighter, and would be nearly sure to dislodge more useful native insect- 

 eating birds. Beware of tits, especially in a fruit-growing country ; they all attack 

 the buds of fruit-trees, and also, though to a lesser degree, ripe fruit and many 

 kinds of seeds. Larks seem to me the most harmless on your list, but, of course, 

 they are largely seed-eaters, and I quite believe that they might do more than good. 

 One has to remember that each country has its own fauna — which lives on each 

 other — special flowers being fertilized by special insects, which in turn are kept in 

 check by special birds. To introduce any strange animal, therefore, must upset the 

 balance, and it is impossible to tell you what the effects will be. I cannot call to 

 mind a single case of successful introduction, though there are many that have been 

 harmful, and I am sure you would be well advised in opposing this suggested intro- 

 duction as strongly as you can." This letter speaks for itself, and fully bears out 

 my contention that there is an element of risk, and that the Government should not 

 take any chances iu allowing the importation of any foreign birds whatsoever. 



The cause of all trouble where introduced animals and birds have become pests 

 is the upsetting of the balance of nature. The reason for this was given by the 

 Hon. John Cockburn, K.C.M.G., in a paper read by him on bird legislation in 

 Australia at the Fourth International Ornithological Congress : " The equilibrium of 

 life is less stable in a new country than an old. The limits of food-supply and 

 natural enemies do not afford so rigid a check to propagation, and consequently any 

 newly introduced form of life may, under favouring conditions, run riot throughout 

 the land." 



I think, from the remarks and quotations given, that you will agree with me 

 that there is a chance of these so-called birds becoming a pest and upsetting the 



