BY PROFESSOR CROOKSHANK. 27 



work of two of my former pupils. I refer to Mr. Quinnell, 

 who both as an instructor and an inspector has proved his ex- 

 ceptional ability and fitness for the post he occupies, and to 

 Mr. Pound, whose studies of cattle tick and other diseases of 

 stock have been of great value to the State. I can only regret 

 that in some of the scientific departments the work should be 

 hampered by very necessary retrenchment on the part of the 

 Government. Reverting for one moment to the work of the 

 Government Entomologist, I observe with great satisfaction 

 that attention is being given to the insectivorous birds of 

 Queensland. A few years ago I visited Jamaica and found it 

 suffering greatly from the destruction of birds. I was informed 

 that the sugar-cane plantations had been over-run with rats, 

 and the mongoose was imported to destroy them. The mon- 

 goose spread over the island like the rabbit in New South 

 Wales. The rats being exterminated, the poultry yards were at- 

 tacked and jBnally the wild birds. Small black ticks now literally 

 cover the vegetation in most parts of the island, and residents 

 and visitors suffer from their attacks. It is now almost im- 

 possible to walk where there is pasture or vegetation of any 

 kind without being infested with ticks. An attempt is being 

 made to restore the balance of nature, by first destroying the 

 mongoose and then reintroducing birds to destroy the ticks. 

 To avoid similar troubles, and in the interest of agriculturists 

 and horticulturists, it is very desirable to put a stop to the 

 continuous destruction of birds in Queeensland. In addition 

 to existing legislation something, perhaps, might be done to 

 prevent indiscriminate slaughter of wild birds by imposing a 

 gun tax. A license to carry a gun and a license to kill game 

 would meet with the approval of all true sportsmen and pro- 

 duce a substantial revenue, a part of which might be allocated 

 to supporting and extending the scientific departments of the 

 Board of Agriculture. The too sweeping destruction of trees 

 in clearing the scrub for cultivation of the soil, is also a matter 

 which I think deserves attention. 



• THE TRAINING OF MEAT INSPECTORS. 

 I shall have occasion later on to refer to the subject of meat 

 inspection ; but with regard to the work of this department 

 of the Board, I trust that in more prosperous times the Go- 

 vernment will be induced to place the system of meat inspec- 

 tion on a more scientific footing. On studying the statistics 

 given by meat inspectors in the annual reports, I regret to 

 say, I have found them of very little scientific value. Thus 



