186 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. II. 



bird had evidently succumbed to the first really severe weather of the 

 winter, the temperature the previous night having dropped to twelve 

 degrees below zero. 



The other Starling was brought to the Museum by Mr. George W. 

 Paine on March 14th. This bird was captured on the evening of March 

 12th, as it sought refuge in a woodpile, from the violence of one of the 

 worst blizzards of the season. It was Mr. Paine's intention to liberate 

 the bird after the storm, but it died, due to its weakened condition. The 

 location of this capture was Whitefish Bay, just north of the Milwaukee 

 limits. Both of these specimens were much emaciated. 



These records extend the known range of the Starling over three 

 hundred miles to the westward of the nearest points at which this spe- 

 cies has been previously reported — the vicinity of Cleveland, Ohio, and 

 Port Stanley, Ontario. 



Starlings were introduced into the eastern United States at various 

 points and dates between 1872 and 1891. The introductions of 1890-91 

 into New York City are supposed to be the ones which resulted in the 

 birds gaining a permanent foothold in this country. 



Although its spread has not been particularly rapid it has been 

 steady, and it is probably only a matter of time before these birds will 

 be common breeders in southern Wisconsin, and other suitable locali- 

 ties in the Mississippi valley. 



Careful investigations by the Biological Survey^- show the food 

 habits of the Starling in this country to be beneficial rather than harm- 

 ful to man. -i' 



Although a handsome bird, its steady increase and spread is re- 

 garded with considerable apprehension by bird lovers, for, like the Eng- 

 lish Sparrow, it often competes only too successfully with the Blue- 

 bird and other desirable native species that nest in holes in trees. 



WOODCRAFT 



By Huron H. Smithes 



There is a fascination about the term "woodcraft," that wakens 

 in our memories the days and deeds of Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, 

 Buffalo Bill, Stewart White, Dan Beard and a host of others who will 

 always be the heroes of the open doors to boys. It is said that a boy 



3="Economic Value of the Starling- in the United States," U. S. Dept. of Agri- 

 culture Bull. No. 868. 



'^Curator of Botany, Milwaukee Public Museum. 



