Vol. XVI 

 1899 



Recent Literature. 2QC 



statement of the history of the introduction, dispersal, and the results 

 of the introduction of some ten species of mammals and seven species 

 of birds into various countries to which they were not native. In 

 nearly every case where the species has found permanent foothold in 

 its new home it has become a pest, in some cases far greater than the 

 evil its introduction was intended to remedy. Several species of Old 

 World rats and mice have been unintentionally carried to nearly all 

 parts of the world, and have thus become almost cosmopolitan pests, 

 but while annoying, and under certain conditions very destructive, 

 their ravages are easily borne in comparison with the losses due to the 

 intentional introduction of the common rabbit of Europe into Australia 

 and New Zealand, the Indian mongoose into Jamaica, and other islands 

 in the West Indies, and into the Hawaiian Islands, and the introduction 

 of ferrets, stoats and weasels into New Zealand to check the rabbit pest. 

 Among birds, we have painful evidence of what may follow the thought- 

 less introduction of foreign species in that now well-nigh ubiquitous 

 pest, the House Sparrow. Of the many attempts, or proposals to intro- 

 duce other exotic species into this country the greater part have, fortu- 

 nately, been attended with little success. The Starling has acquired 

 a strong foothold in the vicinity of New York city, and thus far has 

 apparently proved a well-behaved and attractive bird. It is rapidly 

 increasing in numbers, and we have yet to see whether it will later 

 become as obnoxious and unwelcome as it has under similar conditions 

 in Australia and New Zealand, where " it has adopted a fruit diet to such 

 an extent as to |"have already] become a great pest." 



Dr. Palmer discusses the proposed introduction oC other species of 

 birds to our fauna, and in the light of the past urges that " some restric- 

 tion should be placed on the importation of birds and mammals which 

 may become injurious." The introduction of European ' song-birds ' 

 into the United States has been attempted, with some degree of success, 

 by individuals and by societies organized for this express purpose, but, 

 as Dr. Palmer points out, " Experience with the English Sparrow, the 

 work of rabbits in Australia and of the mongoose in Jamaica, all these 

 have abundantly shown the necessity of preventing the repetition of 

 similar costly blunders." Cape Colony and Western Australia, profiting 

 by the experience of other countries, have already passed rigidly restric- 

 tive measures with this end in view, and it is to be hoped that similar 

 legislation will be soon enacted by the United States, persuant to the 

 wise recommendation urged years ago by Dr. Merriam in his report to 

 the department of Agriculture in 1S86. Dr. Palmer in his ' summary,' 

 concludes as follows: "(7) The introduction of exotic birds and mam- 

 mals should be restricted by law and should be under the control of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture." 



Dr. Palmer's paper is a concise and effective presentation of the sub- 

 ject, and we are glad to see that it is gaining extended publicity by repub- 

 lication in full in various widely known and influential journals. — 

 J. A. A. 



