90 
He also says he has found the remains of young birds in the 
stomachs of some skunks that he has examined. 
Other Minor Enemies. — Three observers each report 
snakes, pheasants and orioles as destructive to young birds. 
The black snake is a deadly enemy to birds, and eats the 
young in nests both on the ground and in trees. Other 
species of snakes are probably less destructive. 
The introduced pheasant ( Phasianus torquatus) is re- 
ported as killing young chickens and game birds, but the 
evidence against it is circumstantial, and not very strong. 
Orioles are reported as tearing down the nests of other 
birds and destroying the eggs, — a trick of which a few 
individuals are undoubtedly guilty. 
Raccoons, being nocturnal, omnivorous and fair climbers, 
are probably destructive wherever they are common; but 
there is little evidence against them as destroyers of birds, 
and they are no longer numerous in many parts of this State. 
Large fish, frogs and turtles kill a good many young of 
water birds. 
A Discussion of Some Suggestions for the Better 
Protection of Birds. 
In reply to the request to suggest means for the better 
protection of birds, several hundred suggestions were re- 
ceived, which may be classed under forty-six different heads. 
Those which appear to be of sufficient importance to merit 
discussion are arranged below, and for convenience classed 
under four principal heads. 
1. Suggestions regarding Education and Moral Suasion. 
Proposed Measure. 
Number 
advocating it. 
Educate the children in regard to birds, and interest 
them in birds’ lives. 
26 
Arouse an interest in the public generally in these matters, 
1 
Arouse the Massachusetts Patrons of Husbandry to act on 
bird protection. 
1 
Form clubs under the auspices of the League of American 
Sportsmen. 
1 
