444 
lantic Ocean, it is present on Bermuda, the Bahamas and 
Cuba. It was sent to Bermuda from New York about 
1874, and two years later was given the same protection^ 
accorded to other birds, its destruction being punished' 
by a fine of 5 to 20 shillings. Ten years after its intro- 
duction it had increased so enormously that a bounty 
was offered for its destruction, and between 1884 and 
i886 about £530 ($2,650) were expended, without caus 
ing any appreciable decrease in its numbers, notwith- 
standing the short time the bird had been present and the 
lact that the islands have an area of less than twenty 
square miles. It is said to have been imported into 
Cuba, and in 1877 was reported to have been introduced 
on New Providence, Bahamas, "within the last few 
years." It has not, liowever, increased rapidly on either 
island, for in 1891 it was reported as still not abundant, 
and apparently had not extended its range to any of the 
neighboring islands. 
The Starling. 
The starling (Sturnus vulgaris) of Eii!-o])e and west- 
ern Asia is oiie of the best known birds of the Old World, 
and during late years has been increasing in numbers in 
the British Isles. It is sometimes accxised of stealing- 
fruit and destroying nests and eggs of other birds, bin 
in its native home it seems to be beneficial rather than 
otherwise. Comparatively little accurate information 
conerning its food habits is available, except the results 
of an examination of 175 stomachs recently made in 
Scotland by Mr. John Gilmour.'' According to this ex- 
amination the food consists of 75 per cent, insects, 20 
per cent, grain (mainly waste grain), and 5 per cent, 
miscellaneous substances. Some useful insects were 
eaten, but the greater proportion were classed as in- 
jurious. The charge of destroying eggs of larks and oc- 
casionally young nestlings was not substantiated, as no 
eggshells were found in these stomachs. Mr. Gilmour 
calls attention to the rapid increase of starlings in Fife- 
shire, thousands now existing where fifty or sixty years 
ago they were considered rafe, and mentions the serious 
damage sometiines done to shrubs and young planta- 
tions when occupied as roosting places, but concludes 
that on the whole the bird is beneficial and worthj^ of 
protection. 
Several attempts have been made to introduce this 
species into the United States, but as yet it has hardly 
obtained a foothold. One of the first itraportations was 
made by the Acclimatization Society of Cincinnati, O., in 
the winter of 1872-73. About 1877 a number of star- 
lings were liberated in Central Park, New York, by the 
American Acclimatization Society, and several similar 
experiments have since been made, but only the last 
seems to have met with success. About sixty birds were 
released in 1890. Some of them have bred for several 
years, and, leaving the park, have established themselves 
in favorable places in the neighborhood. In 1893 and 
1894 flocks of as many as fifty individuals were reported 
to have been seen in the suburbs about the .northern 
end of the city, and late in 1898 a flock of about thirty 
took up residence at Sing Sing. During the last two or 
three years a few have been seen on Long Island, abottt 
Brooklyn. Thirty-five pairs were liberated at Portland, 
Ore., in 1889 and 1892, where they are said to have done 
remarkably well, and as recently as June, 1898, a few 
were seen about the suburbs. In the autumn of 1897 it 
was reported that starlings were to be imported for the 
city park at Allegheny, Pa., but as yet only a dozen or 
fifteen seem to have been introduced, and these have 
been carefully Icept in captivity for breeding, with the 
intention of ultimately stocking the park. 
Much, has been said concerning the advantages of in- 
troducing the starling into this country, but in spite of 
the many arguments brought forward, the bird's charac- 
ter is not above sttspicion, and its usefulness is still open 
to question. The fact seems to have been overlooked 
that in other countries the starling has signally failed to 
fulfill the expectations concerning its usefulness^ Cer- 
tainly the experience of Australia and New Zealand 
offers little encouragement. It was introduced in New 
Zealand in 1867, and as early as 1870 was reported as 
"becoming very numerous." It seems to have increased 
very rapidly, and in spite of its natural preference for 
insects, in its new home it has adopted a fruit diet to such 
an extent as to become a great pest.* In South Aus- 
tralia it was reported to be common in certain localities 
in 1894, and measures for its extermination were consid- 
ered. In Victoria, on the other hand, steps were taken 
in 1895 to promote its increase in fruit and grain grow- 
ing districts, and this fact was nsed as an argument in its 
favor by persons who were endeavoring to introduce it 
into some of the other colonies. Western Australia has 
taken a firm stand on the question, and Mr. R. Helms, 
biologist of the .Bureau of Agriculture of that colony, 
who opposed the proposed importation, gives his rea- 
sons as follows: 
"Had I been asked fifteen or twenty years ago wdiat 
I had to say, I would probably have recommended their 
introduction. But not so now. My experience has 
taught me better. The birds were introduced more than 
fifteen years ago into New Zealand, and now, like the 
thrushes, they have become a pest to fruit growers. They 
have changed their habit from being principally insectiv- 
orous to having become omnivorous." " 
After due deliberation, the Government issued a proc- 
lamation on Jan. 22, 1896, declaring the starling a de- 
structive bird and absolutely prohibiting its importation 
into Western Australia. Still more recently it has been 
condemned in Tasmania, where it is charged with com- 
mittting depredations on small fruits, cherries and wheat. 
Its further distribution has been discouraged, and when 
the question of introducing several species of birds was 
under discussion at an agricultural conference at Scots- 
dale, on Dec. 6, 1897, the starling was promptly rejected." 
The Mina. 
The mina, or mynah (Acridothercs trisHs), is commoti 
throughout most of India, except Kashmir and Tenas- 
Trans. Highland and Agf, Soc, Scotland, 1896. 
*It is also interesting- to note that nearly twenty years ago 
an eminent English ornithologist predicted that in foreign countrieg 
tlae starling would undoubtedly aid in destroying native birds. 
(Newton in Yarrell's British Birds, 4th ed., II., 1876-1882.) 
"Producers' Gazette, Western Australia, V., January, 189S, p. 29. 
" Agr. Hazette, Tasmania, V.. November, 1897, p. CS; January, 
X898, p. 103. 
serim. In its habits it is somewhat like our native 
grackles or crow blackbirds, but seems to resemble the 
sparrow in its familiarity and partiality for human habi- 
tations. It was introduced more than thirty-five years 
ago into Mauritius to destroy grasshoppers, and is said 
to have become perfectly naturalized there.' It has also 
been introduced into the Andaman Islands (some time 
prior to (873), the Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, and 
possibly Australia. 
It is said to have reached the Hawaiian Islands by way 
i of China. Dr. Finsch, an eminent ornithologist, who 
, A'isited Honolulu in 1879, fotnul it very abundant, and 
describes its habits as follows: 
"The mainas are a great nuisance to the inhabitants, 
as they drive away the pigeons and fowls, and are said 
to destroy the nests and eggs of the domestic birds. 
That they do drive out the pigeons from their houses, I 
observed many times myself. * * * In Mr. Barn- 
ing's garden, where the finest trees, chiefly palm, abound, 
hundreds and thousands come to roost, and their inhar- 
monious concert lasts from 6 in the evening for an hour 
or more. The same is the ease at davbreak, a little after 
5 o'clock."'' 
The Kohlmcise, or Great Titmouse. 
"Kohlmeise" is the German name of the great titmouse 
of Europe (Parus major), and this designation is used to 
some extent in the United States. The kohlmeise is com- 
mon over the whole of Europe as far north as the arctic 
circle and also in Siberia. It is a handsome species, about 
the size of the common eastern chickadee {Farus atrica- 
pillus), but may be readily distinguished from any Amer- 
ican titmouse by the dull yellow on the sides of the body 
and the broad black stripe extending down the center of 
its breast. Like other species of the genus, it is mainly 
insectivorous, but in winter is said to eat nuts and hard 
s^eds. The kohlmeise. has recently attracted attention 
on account of its alleged value as a destroyer of the 
codling moth {Carpocapsa pomonclla), particularly in 
Germany, where it is reported to protect apple trees in 
large measure froin the attacks of this destructive in- 
sect. But although several German authors regard it as 
a most useful species, there seems to be no satisfactory 
evidence that it is partial to the codling moth, or in fact 
that it ever feeds on the moth to any great extent In 
Great Britain Avhere the kohlmeise is also a resident and 
generally distributed, its presence has not been sufficient 
to exterminate the codling moth or even to hold this pest 
in check. On the other hand, it is said to attack small 
and weakly birds, splitting open their skulls with its 
beak to get at the brains, and doing more or less datnage 
to fruit, particularly pears. One English observer re- 
ported that all the pears in his garden had to be inclosed 
in muslin bags to protect them from the birds, which 
would otherwise eat a considerable part of the fruit before 
it was ripe. Another reported that the great titmouse 
spoiled most of a limited crop of apples, and then began 
on the peafs, boring a small hole near the stem, and pass- 
ing from one pear to another until every one of forty or 
fiftj^ trees had been damaged. It also attacked figs, scoop- 
ing them out before they were ripe. 
In the autumn of 1897 an article appeared in a paper in 
Idaho setting forth the great value of the bird to the fruit 
grower, and strongly advocating its importation into this 
country. The article attracted the attention of horticul- 
turists throughout the Northwest, and gave rise to con- 
siderable discussion concerning the merits of the bird 
and the desirability of its introduction. While the kohl- 
meise might not develop its fruit-eating propensities in 
America, it should not be introduced until more definite 
information is available concerning its habits and until it 
has been shown beyond question that it will do no serious 
harm. Moreover, since there are already several titmice 
of the same genus in the United States, it seems entirely 
unnecessary to add another to the list, for it is hardly 
probable that the European bird would confine itself to 
the codling moth or be of more value to the hortictil- 
turist than the natiA'e species. It may be added that re- 
cent investigations seem to show tliat tt-ic common east- 
ern cliickadee feeds to some extent on the codling moth, 
as a few larvae, believed to be those of this insect, have 
been found in chickadee stomachs collected in New Hamp- 
shire during February and March." It may be of interest 
also to recall the fact that the kohlmeise was actually in- 
troduced in 1874 at Cincinnati, Ohio, but the experiment 
failed, as neither this nor any of the other exotic species 
imported at the same time became naturalized. 
The Skylark, Green Linnet, and Black Thrush. 
The skylark (Alauda arvensis) , the green linnet 
(Ligurinus chloris) , and black thrush, or black bird ( Tur- 
dus merula), are all natives of Europe. They are chiefly 
of interest in this connection, because in their native home 
they are almost universally considered beneficial, but in 
New Zealand they have developed traits which render 
them far from desirable additions to the fauna of that is- 
land. They were introduced into New Zealand in 1867 ; 
in 1870 the}'- had begun to breed in a wild state in the 
Province of Auckland on the North Island, and the green 
linnet was reported as already becoming common." At 
the present time they are common all over the colony, and 
troublesome in certain districts. The skylark confines 
its injtiries mainly to turnips, eating the seed soon after it 
is planted, and thus causing no small damage to the 
future crop. The green linnet is similarly injurious to 
grain, while the black thrush is accused of taking straw- 
berries, currants, raspberries, and other small fruits. As 
a fruit destroyer the black thrush is said to be worse 
than the English sparrow, and the propo,sal to introduce 
it into Western vXustralia elicited a strenuous protest. 
The .skylark has been introduced several times into the 
United States, especiallj' in the vicinity of New York, and 
recently all three birds have been liberated in Oregon, 
but as yet they have not increased to any extent. Both the 
skylark and the black thrush are noted singers, but the 
charms of their song hardly compensate for damage to 
crops. 
^Jerdon. Birds of India, II., 1863, p. 326. 
3 Ibis, 1880, pp. 77. 78. 
"Weed, Bui. 54 N. H. Coll. Agr. Expt. Station. 1898, pp 87, 
94. 
The green linnet has found its way to the Kermadec Islands, 
600 miles to the northeast, and all three species are said to be now 
present on the Chatham Islands, nearly 500 miles east of the South 
Island of New Zealand. 
[to be continued.] 
The Wild Pigeon. 
Editor Forest- and - Stream: 
Wild pigeons seem to be the all absorbing topic nowi 
and although the light that I can throw on it is only the 
light of a tallow candle. Forest and .Stream can have it 
for what it's worth. 
Something like forty or fifty years ago I was visiting 
a friend on the then open" grounds of Euclid avenue, in 
Cleveland, and pigeons were flying over in such vast num- 
bers that people got so tired of them that it Avas difficult 
to give them away, so my friend and I stopped shooting 
them. They flew very low, and on the glorious Fourth 
we thought we'd make our powder do double duty, so we 
took our chairs out under a tree in the yard and shot single 
ones out of the flocks as they passed over. By noon we 
had dropped about 100, and as we fotmd it difficult to 
give them away we quit the business. It was in June and 
July, and they were feeding ota the cherries in the yard 
from morning till night. They w-erc so tame that they 
were not in the least disturbed hy our walking under the 
trees, and as I was sitting at the windoAv one day a flock 
of them walked along the path not loft. from me. They 
seemed to be swarming everywhere, and the air was about 
black with them for about two months, all going one way, 
and if they did not go to some feeding ground and re- 
turn by another route there must have been such countless 
millions of them that all the market shooters — otherwise 
loafers — could never have exterminated them. My theory 
in regard to their mysterious disappearance is that being 
heartily tired of ceaseless persecution they held a conven- 
tion to devise ways and means of preserving their health 
and decided to move to Central America, where people are 
too ignorant to know they are good to eat. 
Dr. Blaisdell says he has written to all parts of South 
and Central America, but can find no trace of them. I 
know Central America well enough to know that he might 
write till doomsday without learning anything from them, 
for I never met a man down there who knew a pigeon 
from a porcupine. 
I tried on one occasion to tempt my host with as nice 
a string of yellowlegs as I ever saw, but he hooted at the 
idea of eating such things, and I was forced to make a 
fire outside and roast them on the end of a stick. They 
have but one cooking utensil — a pot — -into which every- 
thing goes, from a lizard to a monkey. 
While stopping at Santa Marta on the Carribean coast 
I took a mule ride across to Cieriega, about twenty or thirty 
miles, and found the scenery commonplace and rough, 
with poor, hard soil, and plenty of cactus trees, on the 
fruit of which wild pigeons were feeding b}^ wholesale 
with none to mole.st or make them afraid. 
When I reached my destination I took a stroll in the 
woods close by the town, and as a pigeon flew across I 
shot it to see what it was like. T could see no dift'erence 
between that and our own, though an ornithologist might, 
and had I known Avhat a fuss their ntigration was going 
to make in the world, I certainly would hav^ skinned 
one and brought the skin along. 
They were flying about in all directions, usually singly, 
and I could have stood in the road and shot them as fast 
as I could load m}^ gun. My individual belief is that our 
pigeon and that are one and the same, but that doesn't 
settle it, DiDYMUS. 
St. Augustine, Fla., May 20. 
Wild Pigeons in Connecticut. 
New Haven, Conn., May 29. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: Such an interest seems to exist about the wild 
pigeon as to cattse me to keep a sharp lookout for the 
birds. One year ago last fall I saw eight or ten in a 
flock; then again I saw one last summer, and I reported 
both cases to Forest and Stream. Now I am pleased 
to say that about 4 o'clock last Friday afternoon I sa\y 
two more, probably mates. I came across them while 
driving home, and they were about in the same place 
where I saw the flock. This is in the town of Hamden, 
and five miles from New Haven. The birds were in a tree 
by the roadside, and I had a good loqlc at them before 
they flew and after. H. H. Avis. 
Weights of Raccoons. 
Loon Lake, N. Y. — In a recent issue of your paper S. 
asks for data regarding the weight of raccooiis, I have 
hunted them in this section and in northern New Eng- 
land for many years, and have seen some large ones, but 
none so large as the one whose weight he records. The 
largest I ever secured was a fine old male that tipped the 
scales at just 25>^lbs. The coon will average, I think, 
about 17 or i81bs., one of 2olbs. being considered an un- 
usually large animal. I once heard of one being killed 
that weighed 4olbs., but, as I did not see the animal, could 
not vouch for it. A short time ago a man near here, in 
St. Lawrence county, killed two that Aveighed 281bs. each. 
Late in the autumn the coons are in the finest condition, 
and consequently reach their greatest weight. In the 
spring, after their Avinter's hibernation, they are often 
only skin and bone. Deer wintered well in this section 
and are A'ery plentiful, and CA^erything points to a fine 
time for the sportsman tliis autumn Avhen the season 
opens. Kenewah. 
IThe IJttmpingf Deer. 
The Indian name for the jumping deer quoted in Mr. 
Hallock's paper in May 27 issue, should have beet) print*.'* 
"Wa-wash-ka-she." 
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