n6



Correspondence, Notes, etc.



journal, about the “alleged” sheep killing hy the Kea iu New Zealand.

The word “ alleged” struck me as very funny reading in a book on birds at

this late date. I was but a lad in New Zealand about 1S64-5, when the

first reports came in about what the Keas were doing, and you can imagine

how the idea was scoffed at, when we find forty years later it is not believed

in England.


I11 those early days in New Zealand the Kea was not a common bird,

but with the new source of food supply it was simply amazing how their

numbers increased—and at the cost of the run-holder.


I remember about twenty years later being on a station where the

manager had just paid for the Kea heads killed during the year on the

station—and there were 600 of them at half-a-crown a piece—and I make

bold to state that say thirty years previously there had not been six couple

of these birds on that property, if as many.


John Bathgate.


THE STARLING.


There have latety been some serious complaints made by sheep-owners against the

Starling, on account of the habit it has of plucking out the wool of sheep. At the Ballarat

Show I met with a good many sheep-owners, and I made inquiries into the matter. To my

surprise I found that those who favoured the bird and those who were decidedly opposed

to it were about equally divided. Mr. Frank Austen, of Avalon, stated that 011 his property

the Starlings were in immense numbers, and lie had not had the wool plucked from his

sheep. He said that about thirty sheep-breeders in his district lately gave evidence in this

matter, and not one made a definite charge against the bird of injuring the fleece of their

sheep, though a few were of the opinion that they might injure the wool, when in large

numbers, by their droppings, as they have a habit of riding on the sheep’s back. On the

other hand, Mr. J. Mack, of Berry-bank, stated that, owing to the Starlings plucking wool

from the sheeps’ backs, the fleeces were rendered unsightly and considerably injured. The

birds could not have been looking for ticks, as his sheep were quite free from them.

Several persons supported Mr. Mack iu his statement as to the injury done to the fleece by

Starlings.


That the Starling has taken to eating fruit iu Australia is abundantly proven ; the

complaints against it come from almost every quarter where the Starling lias become

established. If, in addition to fruit-eating the Starling has acquired the pernicious habit

of injuring the wool on the sheep's back, the feeling will grow strong that it must be got

rid of, which will now be a work of some difficulty. This will be a great pity, for the

Starlings’ habit of eating insects has heretofore g'ained for the bird the name of the

farmers’ friend. I11 many places I have seen these birds in immense flocks, day after day,

busily engaged seeking their food iu the pastures, and I have not seen them injuring the

sheeps’ fleece. However, if they have acquired this habit it is but natural that the flock-

owners will endeavour to destroy them. The pastoral industry has enemies enough

without adding to their number.



JAVA SPARROW PAIRING WITH GOLDFINCH.


Sir, —I have a Java Sparrow which is paired to a lien Goldfinch. As

it strikes me it is rather an unusual occurrence, I am writing to ask v’ou if

you would advise 1113’ putting them in a breeding cage, as she has started

building a nest iu a corner of a vetw large cage in which there are several

other birds. Arts Gorter.



