The editors of "The Taiyo" were BO muoh Interested 

 in this article that they made it the subject of a lengthy 

 article drawing a comparison between the enemies of reforesta- . 

 tion in this country and the Orient from a biological stand- 

 point. It is to be regretted that space forbids our giving 

 the article in full. We understand, however, that it trf.ll be 

 published in the Forestry Quarterly, and warmly advocate a 

 careful study by all our readers. As a fore- taste of the 

 nature of the treatise we reproduce herewith a free trans- 

 lation of the characters on the cover of "The Taiyo" which 

 explains the figure of the bird above as well as form a digest 

 of the leading article. 



"The gigantic bird shown above, knoTui as Polyornisa- 

 nufi ponderosa in scientific circles and commonly known as 

 great seed-eating bird is the most destructive of the biologi- 

 cal agents combatting reforestation on the island of Formosa 

 where the Japanese Department of Forestry Is making extensive 

 researches. It is even more destructive than the rodents on 

 the Tahoe national ?orost, whose depredations are so admirably 

 described in an article in the June issue of "The Tahoe" 

 issued at Nevada City, California, United States of America. 

 It is authentically stated by careful observers that the 

 voracious appetite of this extraordinary bird which depends en- 

 tirely upon pine seed for subsistence, is the chief reason for 

 the sparoity of pine timber on the island of Formosa. As soon 

 r.s the seed approaches maturity, the oones are savagely de- 

 molished by this bird with its powerful beak and the seed 

 devoured or carried to the inaccessible Jungles of the In- 

 terior. It is conjectured that the development of the three 

 legs, the three claws on each leg and tri-parted tail ia the 

 result of the sole feeding on seed borne by the coniferous 

 'trees of Formosa which invariably have three needles in a 

 bundle." 







Editor's note: 



The original of this cover was found by Forest As- 

 sistant Mitchell and Ranger Sivortson in a logging oamp In 

 the hirjh Sierras, and sent to the editorial staff whioh Is not 

 entirely locking in imagination. 



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