286 HEARINGS BEFORE COMVITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
eighteen years, ever since we have been in the Department, we have 
carried on two lines of work: The Biological Survey proper—studying 
and mapping the geographical distribution of animals and plants, and 
the natural life belts, the agricultural belts, of the country; and, sec- 
ond, an investigation of the food habits of birds and mammals with 
reference to horticulture and agriculture generally. Those have been 
two separate divisions. To those have been added, a few years ago, by 
the Lacey Act, a third—investigation in relation to the introduction 
and importation of game animals and nongame animals and birds into 
this country, and supervision of interstate traffic in game; and, more 
recently still, another which comes under the same division—the charge 
of all matters relating to Alaska game, and the granting of permits for 
taking game out of Alaska. So that for two or three years we have 
had three divisions under the Biological Survey. The Biological Sur- 
vey, from the Economic Ornithology and Game Preservation divisions, 
issue permits for the introduction of all birds and animals brought into 
this country from abroad. Two hundred and fifty-four thousand birds 
were introduced into this country last year. 
The Cuarrman. Live birds? 
Mr. Merriam. Live birds. 
The Cuarrman. What were they, principally—canaries? 
Mr. Merriam. The vast majority of them were canaries. Other 
birds are brought in from all over the world, and we have inspectors 
at the different ports. At New York the great bulk of inspections are 
made; others at Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Hono- 
lulu. Wedoa great deal of inspection at Honolulu (perhaps more 
than anywhere except New York) to keep out birds, mammals, and 
reptiles which the natives of the Hawaiian Islands regard of the great- 
est possible injury to them should they come to be introduced. They 
have suffered severely from the introduction of species which have 
been naturalized there—the mongoose, the fruit-eating bats, and birds 
which are destructive; and they are afraid of the introduction of cer- 
tain reptiles; so they secured a certain enactment against the intro- 
duction of any rentile without inspection. 
The CuarrMan. You mean the local powers? 
Mr. Merriam. The local legislature. An order was issued by the 
Secretary of Agriculture on the subject under the general law, which 
is in effect. there; and we have an inspector there who examines all 
shipments; and we allow nothing to come into this country from the 
Philippines on account of the diseases there. 
The Cuatrman. What reptiles? 
Mr. Merriam. They are afraid of poisonous reptiles, poisonous 
snakes, and poisonous lizards, and they seem to be afraid of some rep- 
tiles, the reason for which was not quite clear to me. 
The Cuarrman. What are the grounds for that fear? 
Mr. Merriam. I do not know. 
Mr. Scorr. Who are likely to import poisonous reptiles here? 
_ Mr. Merriam. A great many people. Some people import them 
just ax curiosities and freaks, and others import them because they 
think they will destroy some of our insect pests. Snakes have been 
introduced to kill rats, just as the mongoose is introduced to kill rats. 
We have never had any moncy to pay for the inspections of importa- 
tions, so that the importer pays for every inspection of his own goods. 
