38 



serviceable in destroying insect pests, but less so than most 

 native species. 



Like the following species and the domestic cat, it is an in- 

 troduced species and when allowed at large disturbs the bal- 

 ance of nature and so makes trouble. As I have already treated 

 of this bird in Circular No. 48 no more space can be devoted 

 to it here. 



The Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). 



The starling is increasing and spreading rapidly, and may 

 yet prove to be a greater enemy to native birds than the spar- 

 row now is, but it cannot enter nesting boxes with an entrance 

 hole one and one-half inches in diameter. Therefore, nesting 

 boxes for the smaller birds may be made starling proof. It is 

 said to kill small birds at times. I have already treated of 

 the bird at some length in Circular No. 45. 



Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus torquatus). 

 Whatever may be said for pheasants by the advocates of 

 the introduction and propagation of these exotic birds there 

 can be no doubt that if they ever become unduly numerous 

 they will interfere with native birds. The ring-necked pheas- 

 ant is a good bird for a game preserve, particularly on land 

 where no other gallinaceous bird is wanted. It thrives along 

 the coast, especially near salt marshes where the winters are not 

 too severe. The border of the marsh is its native habitat, but 

 on high land where winters are inclement, with heavy snowfalls, 

 it must be fed and cared for. In winter it feeds on weed seeds, 

 bayberries and other low-growing fruits and seeds, of which 

 it eats great quantities and thus deprives bobwhites and other 

 native birds of their chief winter sustenance. Eyewitnesses 

 have told me that they have seen the pheasant kill both the 

 bobwhite and the ruffed grouse. I have seen a pheasant strike 

 a bobwhite on the head and drive it away from the pheasant's 

 feeding ground. As a game bird the pheasant cannot compare 

 with either of these native birds, and it is not a desirable 

 species to supplant them with. It will never become very 

 abundant, however, if the seventy thousand licensed gunners 

 of Massachusetts have their chance at it annually, and as it is 

 well adapted to the game preserve it has come to stay. It is 

 destructive to the gypsy moth and other insect pests. 



