398 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



lings which had summered in the vicinity. Later complaints 

 of similar injury were received from Billerica. Walt Mc- 

 Mahon gathered there on the farm of E. F. Dickinson a num- 

 ber of apples which had been pecked by starlings, some of 

 which were photographed for the accompanying j)late. It will 

 be seen that the birds take only a little from the ripest part of 

 each fruit. They also attack pears in the same way and eat 

 cherries bodily. When they come in large flocks they strip a 

 cherry tree in a very short time, and they quickly destroy the 

 grape crop. New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Ver- 

 mont have already removed protection from the starling. Mas- 

 sachusetts probably will follow. 



The successful introduction of the starling in this country, 

 which is responsible for its establishment here, occurred in 'New 

 York in 1890. There were several earlier importations of the 

 species which apparently were unsuccessful. John Coulson 

 writes me that four starlings were caught from a small flock on 

 the estate of Stephen Salisbury at Worcester, Massachusetts, on 

 Wednesday, iJ^Tovember 8, 1876, between 11 and 12 o'clock noon, 

 and were kept in a room in his house until Saturday the 11th, 

 when some one carelessly let them out. Mr. Coulson, a native 

 of England, knew the bird well, and there seems to be no doul^t 

 about the identification. 



Good Results of the Protection of Wild Fowl. 

 Laws for the protection of wild ducks and geese passed in 

 New England in recent years have shown almost immediate re- 

 sults. The protection of these birds all the year, except during 

 the autumn months, thus securing them in a large measure from 

 molestation during the severe weather of winter, and the breed- 

 ing season in the spring and summer, has resulted (1) in many 

 birds staying here during the winter; (2) an increased number 

 remaining here to breed; (3) a larger number returning in the 

 autumn. I predicted before these laws were enacted that such 

 would be the result. ISTow the Federal law for the protection of 

 migratory birds has extended protection to these birds over the 

 entire country, and in so far as it has been observed it has had 

 a similar effect. If this law is sustained by the Supreme Court 



