180 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and habits in Europe, for by such a comparison we may be 

 able to forecast its probable relation to other birds and to 

 agriculture in Massachusetts. 



Its Increase andDisserniimtion. — When the brief period 

 that has elapsed since the introduction of the starling (twenty 

 years) and the small number introduced are considered, it 

 must be conceded that the increase and the dissemination of 

 the species have' been rapid. It has not increased or spread 

 so rapidly as did the house sparrow (commonly called English 

 sparrow), but the sparrow's numbers sprang not from one 

 importation but from many, that took place at widely scat- 

 tered localities during a series of years, — something that 

 has been prevented in the case of the starling. Its increase 

 has been rapid in most of the region now occupied by it, 

 where it is in many places second in numbers only to the 

 sparrow and the robin. The testimony of 110 correspond- 

 ents whose residences are scattered over five States shows that 

 the starling is increasing fast. All state as a result of their 

 observation that it is increasing, and most of them say that 

 its accession is rapid. Only 18 have seen no increase in their 

 localities or find the increase slow. They, however, are resi- 

 dent mainly near where the starling was first introduced, and 

 where it has nearly reached the limit of food supply or nest- 

 ing places. Even in Brooklyn, however, Mr. Edward W. 

 Victor, who keeps a carefnl daily account of the birds ob- 

 served at Prospect Park, records an average of 29 starlings 

 daily in 1908, 31 in 1909 and 41 in 1910. Mr. Jno. 11. 

 Sage of Portland, Conn., states that two pairs were seen there 

 in 1908, and that by June, 1910, the mmiber had increased 

 to about 100. During the breeding season the starling is 

 rather quiet and secretive, and its numbers are not fully 

 realized, but in the fall its large flocks become very conspicu- 

 ous, and people are prone to exaggerate its numbers for the 

 reason that these flocks roam over the country for miles, fre- 

 quently appearing and disappearing and giving the impres- 

 sion of great abundance. The most convincing proof of in- 

 crease comes in the statements of people who saw the starlings 

 in flocks of from 1,000 to 3,000 in the fall of 1909, and who 



