INTRODUCTION OF FOREIGN BIRDS. 233 



When the introduction of any bird or other animal froro a 

 foreign country is proposed, great care should be exercised to 

 study thoroughly all phases of the subject. Often, when 

 such importations have been made without careful scientific 

 investigation, they have proved very expensive mistakes. 

 The importation of the rabbit into Australia, the mongoose 

 into Jamaica, and the sparrow into America and Australia, 

 are familiar examples. The English sparrow was introduced 

 here for the express purpose of suppressing such native 

 pests as the larvae of the canker-worm moths. If previous 

 to its introduction its habits had been carefully studied in 

 Europe by a competent man appointed for the purpose by the 

 United States government, its introduction might have been 

 prevented. This exotic species, the value of which is doubted 

 in its native home, was brought here to perform a task which 

 native American species might have accomplished much bet- 

 ter had they been protected and encouraged in our parks as 

 the sparrow was. 



There are in Europe at least six different species of titmice. 

 All of them are found in some of the countries where dispai' 

 is native. They are all recognized as eminently beneficial, 

 and are regarded by foresters, entomologists and ornitholo- 

 gists as among the most useful species in controlling noxious 

 insects. Could they be successfully introduced here, they 

 might do a vast amount of good not only in destroying the 

 eggs of the gypsy moth but the larvae also, as well as the 

 eggs of many other injurious insects. It is difficult to imag- 

 ine that any harm could come from the introduction of these 

 insectivorous birds, unless they should change their habits 

 in some way or drive out our native species, especially the 

 black' cap titmouse or chickadee, and fail to eat the females 

 and eggs of the canker-worm moths which the chickadee 

 devours in such quantities.* If that should happen, it 

 would indeed be a catastrophe, as the chickadee is one of 

 the most useful of all our native birds. 



No importation of birds should be blindly attempted. An 



* The great titmouse (Parus major) has been known to attack other birds 

 and break open their skulls, eating their brains. Some species of European tit- 

 mice are believed to do some injury to plantations of young trees by destroying 

 buds or leaves. 



