The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-08-30
BIRDS HELD
AS PESTS
Cupid's Collection
Falls AfOul
of Law.

II rests the fate of cage full of
~ pretty little birds and two little
animals which. though classed as
spossums, are in reality tree kangaroos.
The beasts and birds are part of a
shipment from Australia. sent in the
Ventura by Prince Cupid, for the stock
ing of he Waikiki home of the two
Princes.
There was fair menaserie at the
Pacific Club yesterday, for the lot of
cages which came for Prince David had
been removed to that place by Manager
Wyman, when il was found that there
had been no notification to Prince Da-
vid of the arrival of the first INSTALL
ment of the natural curiosities which
ne expects to have domiclled In the
aviary and corrals of the old home
stead. In the shipment We're a pair of
kangaroos, two lively beasts, a cage
with magnificent specimen of the
white parrot, a bird which so far has
shown capacity to whistle only, ant, a
cage containing two dozen birds of the
cockatoo. macaw and love bird species.
AS soon as the birds and beasts We're
landed there was an agreement TO turn
the collection over to Wyman, for the
birds were in need of care. as three
OF them were dead. Yesterday morn
ing, however, there was a visit to the
place of their keeping paid by Assistant
Director Sedgwick Of the Agricultural
Station and then the trouble began.
SINCE last year there has been a strin-
gent law concerning the importation of
animals and birds into the United
States. OF course the Prince could not
have known that to send such things
to his home must be procured a per-
nit so he sent them along. The law
is designed to keep out of the country
such birds and animals as would be
inimical to the interests Of the fields
and trees. AS soon as the presence of
the collection wa; made known the at
tention of DIR. w. A. Bryan, curator in
ornithology at the Bishop Museum, was
called to them, and he at once made
his verbal report. The kangaroos are
permitted in the regulations. so are the
PAL OTIS and their various species but
the others came under the ban.
The small birds, some of them resem-
bling canaries and others the reed bird
OF the East were called specimens of
the Weaver bird. one of the species of
the rice bird, and as such there was a
Gan4ei that they might prove pest
in the rice fields. The little animals
were pronounced the Australian tree
kangaroo, and not the opossum. as they
Hcre thought TO be at first. There was
an opinion that they were a species of
the woodchuck. and being in that event
burrowing animal, they We're to be
feared as dangerous to the field crops.
SO the rest of the collection was taken
t. the home of Prince David, where
they will be disposed in cages and
fenced enclosures, but the two crates
with the~tabu specimens are still In the
c,stody of Wyman.
As the matter stands the customs
authorities, who are still in nominal
control of the birds and beasts, are
waiting upon Mr.. Smith, He is the
only person who is recognized in thu
matter by the Treasury authorities, IS
tie regulations say that the inspectors
@, the Agriculture Department must
pass upon animals, There will be Of
course an appeal to Washington, as
Mr. Smith has not been appointed an
inspector of live stock at all There is
an inspector at San Francisco, but II
is more likely that the matter Will be
referred directly to the Capitol than
that it will go through the hands of an
ether officer. In the meantime it is the
opinion that the disputed specimens will
be turned over to the Prince to hold in
his custody until there has been a de-
cision from headquarters. This is the
course which Mr.. Smith will recon-
mend, and II is probable that the two
cages will be removed to Waikiki to-
day.
Thu shipment is the first of a number
which it is expected will come from the
South Seas for the suburban home of
the Princes. Prince David said yester-
day: MY brother had intended to send
many specimens from the countries he
visited, We have many animals and
birds out there now and we want to
have many more. While in South
africa he lad an attempt made 10 So
cure lion cub. but he was not sue
ccssfu'. ana so we will not b. able &c
add this to our collection. AS soon as
he reached Aus ralia ne began to collect
and these are the first specimens we
nave received. 1 eype; there will b.
many others before my brother leavh:;
the South Seas for home"
Prince Cupid Is now on the last stage
of his globe-circling tour. He has been
in Australia for some time and has
come on to New Zealand, where he ex-
poets TO stay a month. He will then
visit Tahiti and from there proceed to
San Francisco, from which city he will
come home. after only a-short stop.