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REPORT ON BIRDS. 
Honolulu, February 14, 1911. 
Hon. Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry. 
Honolulu. 
Gentlemen: — Regarding the importation of the red-winged 
blackbird, as mentioned in a letter from Mr. W. S. Wise of Hilo, 
I desire to state that I think it best to abide by the advice given 
in the report of Dr. H. W. Henshaw in which he quotas the fol- 
lowing in speaking of the danger of importing seed-eating birds. 
"The Brewer's blackbird might possibly prove an exception to 
the rule, but it is exceedingly gregarious in fall and winter, and 
any birds that assemble in large flocks are to be regarded with 
suspicion as they are capable of inflicting great damage on crops, 
when they turn their attention to them." 
If the Board should decide to allow the importation of black- 
birds, I would suggest that some provision be made to have a 
large observation cage built in which the birds could be closely 
watched and that a competent person be given full charge of this 
work. 
Since receiving Dr. Henshaw's report there has been quite a 
lot of discussion pro and con on bird-introduction and while 
every one will concede that bird life would add greatly to the 
charm of the Islands, yet for the sake of our growing agricultural 
industries, we should use every precaution in the importation and 
distribution of birds. I believe, that by building proper aviaries, 
large enough to have ample room for test plots of rice and other 
seed crops under cultivation and then having the work of obser- 
vation carried on under direct supervision of a competent orni- 
thologist, we shall be able to select a few birds, which would be 
a good acquisition to our fauna. Without such provisions and 
funds for maintaining them, the importation of dubious birds 
should not be sanctioned. 
Respectfully yours, 
E. M. EHRHORN, 
Superintendent of Entomology. 
DIVISION OF FORESTRY. 
• Honolulu, February 24, 1911. 
Board of Agriculture and Forestry, Honolulu, Hawaii, 
Gentlemen : — I have the honor to submit the routine report of 
the months of January and February, 1911, as follows : 
FOREST RESERVES. 
On January 28, 1911, a public hearing was held by the Gover- 
nor and the Board to consider the creation of a forest reserve in 
