370 THE POOD OF BIRDS 



of perches in paddy fields and similar low crops by putting in upright 

 sticks and branches, as is done in some places, simply in order to 

 concentrate these birds where we most want them, in the paddy 

 fields. For our most important bird, the Mynah, I would advocate 

 the extensive planting of fig trees such as the pipal, banyan, gular, 

 etc., as pioviding it with shelter and with food so as to keep its num- 

 bers up to the maximum : this can be done only by roadside tree 

 planting and in the selection of trees for this purpose I would put 

 greater value on these trees than on others. The destruction of 

 the Rufous Short-toed Lark or Ortolan should be totally prohibited 

 and this bird should be recognised as one deserving of protection. 

 So also the Indian Roller or Blue Jay deserves protection. The 

 Spotted Owlet and Kites one cannot probably help as they are not 

 killed, but the Black Partridge deserves protection. 



A great deal is written about the destruction of birds for plu- 

 mage by two classes of people, those who want to protect them, 

 and who say they are shot or killed extensively and are smuggled 

 out of India in spite of the prohibition of the export of the Plumage 

 of Wild Birds in India, and those who want to let this export go on 

 openly, as legitimate trade. Of the birds known to be exported, 

 the Cattle Egret and the Jay are the only ones we can definitely say 

 are beneficial in any way. Their destruction and exportation should 

 be prohibited. On the other hand, the Rose-Ringed Parroquet 

 and all Parroquets deserve to be exterminated, and if exportation 

 of plumage will encourage this it is a mistake to prohibit this export- 

 ation. So for the Ibises, Storks, and Herons ; there is no evidence 

 tha.t they do anything but harm, and no argument for their preserva- 

 tion can be based on their beneficial action. On the other hand 

 it is not possible to say that the birds killed for plumage are in the 

 main destructive, or in any way affect the ryot. The Parroquets 

 do, as we have said, and they should be destroyed and the export 

 of their plumage made legal. The Egrets in general, the Peacocks, 

 the Jungle Cocks, the King-Fishers, the Pheasants do not affect 

 the ryot. Their destruction for plumage will not in any way bene- 

 fit nor harm the ryot. The destruction of Cranes, Parroquets and 



