No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE ORNITHOLOGIST. 191 



ac'lis were empty and 3 nearly empty. A large proportion of 

 these was taken on the roost at night, on or before 8 o'clock, 

 and as the birds were feeding until about 7 o'clock, and as 

 they usually go to roost with a full stomach, it is fair to as- 

 sume that the digestion of the starling is rapid enough to 

 empty its stomach within an hour. 



The starling is not numerous enough in Massachusetts to 

 do any appreciable injury to fruit crops, vegetation or native 

 birds. Thus far it is undoubtedly beneficial here, as it does 

 some good by destroying noxious insects. Under our laws it 

 is protected at all times, but if its numbers increase unduly 

 it may be necessary to deny it the legal protection now af- 

 forded to insectivorous birds. 



In closing this report I gratefully acknowledge the cour- 

 tesies tendered by Dr. T. S. Palmer and Prof. F. E. L. Beal of 

 the Bureau of Biological Survey, United States Department 

 of Agriculture, Washing-ton, D. C, who have rendered pos- 

 sible this investigation and report ; and also to record my 

 indebtedness to the list of correspondents appended, who have 

 furnished information regarding the starlings in Europe and 

 America. The stomachs of the starlings collected by me were 

 examined by Professor Beal, who kindly furnished me a list 

 of the contents. Much assistance was also rendered by Messrs. 

 B. S. Bowdish of Demarest, N. J. ; W. W. Grant of Engle- 

 wood, N. J. ; W. S. Bogert of Leonia, N. J. ; Courtenay Bran- 

 dreth of Ossining, N. Y. ; Samuel N. Rhoads of Haddonfield, 

 N. J. ; Rev. A. B. Dolan of Agawam, Mass. ; and Robert O. 

 Morris and William Deardon of Springfield, Mass. 



Respectfully submitted , 



EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH, 



State Ornithologist. 



