122 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



skins which have sold at prices varying from 20 cents to $2, 

 according to size, quality and color. There is hope for the 

 future of the birds in the constantly increasing prices of fur. 

 Eventually this will act as a bounty on the vagrant wandering 

 cat. 



Few if Any Birds killed by Spraying. 



All dead birds sent in during the summer as victims of the 

 work of spraying the trees with poisonous insecticides were ex- 

 amined, and in all cases where death was not evidently attrib- 

 utable to other causes they were analyzed for arsenic. In no 

 case was any perceptible trace of the poison found. Thus far 

 the evidence of poisoning by spraying is chiefly negative, as 

 in nine years only three birds that possibly were poisoned by 

 spraying have been found. Many tales are told of the great 

 numbers of birds killed by the spray, but the birds so poisoned 

 are not forthcoming. They do not reach this office. While it 

 is quite probable that where large quantities of poison are used 

 and trees are heavily sprayed some birds may be poisoned, and 

 while it may be possible that they are sometimes fatally affected 

 by drinking water contaminated with spray, or by drinking the 

 spray itself, there is as yet no evidence that would convince a 

 careful investigator that any great numbers of birds are killed 

 by spraying. 



On the other hand, many so-called wild rabbits or hares have 

 been picked up dead where spraying has been done, and, al- 

 though the stomachs of these rabbits have not been analyzed, 

 it seems probable that they were killed by spraying, as they live 

 mainly on vegetable matter, while in spring and early summer 

 when spraying is done the birds live chiefly on insects and will 

 not touch those that appear sickly or are dying from the effects 

 of the insecticide. 



The Heath Hen. 

 Three days were spent on Martha's Vineyard in April in 

 an attempt to determine by personal observation whether the 

 efforts to prevent the extinction of this bird give any real 

 promise of success. I am convinced from personal observation 

 that there were then at least ten times as many heath hens 

 upon that island as were there when the Massachusetts Board 



