NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 211 
similar to them in flavor, being sweet and nutty. The ripe pods are 
collected a strung upon sharp-pointed reeds about four feet in 
lengt n thus threaded they are formed into large bundles, and 
carried ri the river to the villages, where they are dried in the sun, 
and stored for use. The seed is ground into flour, and made into a 
kind of porridge. — Baker’s Albert Nyanza. 
pier Troe 
ZOOLOGY. 
RTIFICIAL NESTS OF INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS IN SWITZERLAND. —I 
is evident that the agriculturist must mainly rely on the insectivorous 
birds to guard against the attacks of injurious insects. The subject 
has attracted much attention in Europe. For twenty-five years, M 
Auguste Burnat has domesticated in artificial nests, numerous species 
of birds which have effectually stopped the ravages of insects. Such 
nests, made of various forms and of different materials to suit their 
occupants, were placed in the ete in ln orchards, and in public 
promenades and parks. The birds most easily raised were the spar- 
rows, etc. (Fringilla, aah Seia the ernis (Sitta), and the 
Sasdpicker TS, W. wr last are very serv 
Swallows. The starli ing had ‘een n raised. in great numbers, being more 
TEN multiplied an myo ord 
During the years 1852 to 1857, t ts, M. Dietrich, at Grun- 
beim, in Saxony, n ed that two species of Beetles, the ‘inc abietis and ater [allied 
to our Pine Weevils], h e firs of his district. During this 
time there were spent in dest: stroy ing these insects over four thousand francs, but in spite 
bined effort the evil still existed, It was then remedied by the Starlings. The inspec- 
of pines (epiceas). The neces was complete. At the end of May, in examining some 
son oe scarcely ae to fly, — stomachs were found filled with Weevils, whose 
” had been, previously to their being swallowed, broken off by the parent birds. 
Ir th IF the Star arlings some etime feed o on plumb s an grapes, 6, the, ey can be sasiy frightened of, 
ve may attribute the cause, in part, to the artificial nests established for ae Starling. It 
the same in Holstein and in oe where Sari take the same care in multiplying 
the Owls.” — Bulletin de la Societe d Acclimatati 
We learn that two hundred E hie sparrows were last year domes- 
ticated in Union Par k, in New York city, and that they on 
destroyed the Canker-worms infesting the shade trees. pai 
nore just been imported into New Haven. The English Spel 
o 
this Society, a April 18th, Dr. Charles Pickering called attention 
to the recent in troduction of the House sparrow of Europe into this 
country. As it threatens great evil, preventive measures should be 
6 
