514 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Martin L. Sornborger writes from Haydenville that he has 

 actually seen the skunk eating the eggs in a grouse's nest. 

 He also says he has found the remains of young birds in the 

 stomachs of some skunks that he has examined. 



Other Minor Enemies. Three observers each report 

 snakes, pheasants and orioles as destructive to young birds. 

 The black snake is a deadly enemy to birds, and eats the 

 young in nests both on the ground and in trees. Other 

 species of snakes are probably less destructive. 



The introduced pheasant (Phasianus torquatus) is reported 

 as killing young chickens and game birds, but the evidence 

 against it is circumstantial, and not very strong. 



Orioles are reported as tearing down the nests of other 

 birds and destro}dng the eggs, a trick of Avhich a few 

 individuals are undoubtedly guilty. 



Raccoons, being nocturnal, omnivorous and fair climbers, 

 are probably destructive wherever they are common ; but 

 there is little evidence against them as destroyers of birds, and 

 they are no longer numerous in many parts of this State. 



A DISCUSSION OF SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE BETTER 



PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 



In reply to the request to suggest means for the better 

 protection of birds, several hundred suggestions were re- 

 ceived, which may be classed under forty-six different 

 heads. Those which appear to be of sufficient importance 

 to merit discussion are arranged below, and for convenience 

 classed under four principal heads. 



1. Suggestions regarding Education and Moral Suasion. 



PROPOSED MEASURE. 



Number 

 advocating it. 



Educate the children in regard to birds, and interest 



them in their lives. 

 Arouse an interest in the public generally in these matters, 



Arouse the Massachusetts patrons of husbandry to act on 



bird protection. 

 Form clubs under the auspices of the League of American 



Sportsmen. 



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