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increase unduly, as they probably will, it may be necessary to 

 deny it the legal protection now afforded to insectivorous birds. 



Since the above was written, a canvass of the State has been 

 made and starlings have been reported from every county, even 

 from Nantucket, where they were unknown until 1914. Their 

 pioneers have explored the country and have decided upon their 

 locations. We may expect a great increase in the starling 

 population in a few" years. 



An entomological collector near New Haven, Connecticut, 

 complains that certain insects of grass lands are scarce and hard 

 to find since the starlings have become numerous. Such a re- 

 duction of grass insects will cause no complaint from the 

 farmers. Nevertheless, those who raise cherries and straw- 

 berries cannot appreciate the benefits to be derived from the 

 starling, and some States already have removed the protection 

 of the law from it. 



Perhaps it is too early yet to say what will be the final 

 result of the introduction of the starling into this country. 

 Its value as an in'feect destroyer is plain, but its unchecked 

 increase may prove a calamity to several species of useful 

 native birds, and from the experience of other countries we 

 may assume that it is likely to become a pest to the fruit 

 grower. 



Owners of apple and cherry orchards may be able to keep 

 the birds away from their fruit by employing boys to frighten 

 them by clapping boards together or firing Roman candles, 

 rockets or even guns. There is little danger to the starling in 

 any of the farmers' efforts to shoot it, as the bird is more likely 

 to be scared than hurt. Owners of a few trees who cannot 

 afford to hire help may be obliged to cover their trees with fine 

 fish net, or lose their fruit. 



