636 ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1908. 



PIGEONS. 



Doves and pigeons, like parrots, never eat insects. Some species 

 subsist almost exclusively on fruit, others on grain. The fruit-eating 

 kinds do but little damage, since they feed mostly on wild figs and 

 other fruit of no use to man. The various species of dove affect 

 grooves and plantations of trees rather than cultivated fields, and I 

 have never heard any complaints against them. The blue rock 

 pigeons {Golumba intermedia) devour food grains, but, as a set-off, 

 they are good birds for the table. They appear to be less abundant 

 in India now than formerly. Sportsmen keep down their numbers. 

 I do not know of any place in India where pigeons are sufficiently 

 numerous to do serious harm to the crops. 



GEESE. 



There remain the geese. These certainly do damage to the green 

 shoots of the various grain crops, but are so useful as food, and 

 afford so much pleasure to the sportsman that their annual influx 

 into India must be regarded as an asset of considerable value. The 

 same may be said of the common quail, which feeds chiefly on grain. 

 Thus, of the 1,600 species of birds found in India we can count on 

 our fingers all those which, on further inquiry, mxay prove to be foes 

 of the farmer. The vast majority are his very good friends, and 

 should be encouraged by every possible means. 



EXPORT OF PLUMAGE. 



In conclusion, a word on the exportation of plumage. As most 

 people are aware, the govermnent of India passed, nearly six 

 years ago, a measure prohibiting the export of plumage, other than 

 ostrich feathers, except as natural history specimens to museums. 

 This act was not passed in haste. The question of the necessity for 

 such legislation on account of the harm done to agriculture by the 

 killing of useful birds for the sake of their plumage, was raised as 

 long ago as 1869. It was not until 1887 that legislative action was 

 taken. The enactment of 1887 not proving sufficiently efficacious, the 

 more stringent act of 1903 was passed. 



Thus the government of India has done all in its power for the 

 birds and the agriculturists. Unfortunately, the export still con- 

 tinues, although, I believe, it has been considerably lessened. The law 

 is evaded by the exporter making a false declaration as to the nature 

 of his exports. I am glad to observe that a bill prohibiting the 

 importation of such plumage into Great Britain is now before Parlia- 

 ment. This bill, if it becomes law, will render the Indian act far 

 more effective. 



