Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22

ment's order, but as the scientists Of the
Department Of Agriculture wished, If pos
sible, to have the experiments conducted
it was agreed that the professors labora-
tory should be guarded by a federal keeper,
the experimental agreeing to kill the OBJ
Jectlonable ichneumons within a month. To
convey them safely from the steamer at
the Schuylkill pier he chIoroformed them
and upon arriving at his laboratory found
them to be dead.
Hard to Conquer.
In Jamaica, Porto Rico and Hawaii how
ever, the mongoose has sturdily and craft
lily resisted all efforts made by scientists
and hunters to conquer him. The animal Is
exceedingly wary. evadng the most cum
ningly devised traps. The mongoose seems
to know thoroughly the habits and nesting
places of birds. and 1t frequently will kill
ana devour scores of them in single night.
The Department of Agriculture has
abundantly demonstrated the benefit con-
ferred on husbandry by birds that feed on
insect pests, and. therefore, every effort
Will be maintained to keep out the bird de
stroylng mongoose.
Because of this unqualified embargo
placed upon the animal" said Dr. Palmer,
the mongoose is attracting worldwide at
tention, particularly among scientists who
have hitherto known little about It."
On the continent of America there are
but three or four mongooses (the plural OF
mongoose is not mongeese) and they are
strict espionage of government officials
There is one at the National Geological
Park in this city, and over his cage has
been erected a placard announcing that
further importation Of It's kind will be a
serious infraction of the federal law. A
number Of scientists have made journeys
hither for the express purpose of studying
the animal.
Other Prohibited Species.
The importation into the United States OF
the flying fox Pteropus rubicolis). the
largest mammal that flies, and which is a
ruthless harvester of fruits and vegetables,
is also prohibited. The flying fox, or fruit
bat is native of the islands of the eastern
archipelago.
The English sparrow continues of course
on the black list, but the exclusion law in
TINS case Is rather tardy, for the objection
able bird is multiplying at enormous rate
and spreading throughout the country.
The starting, a bird allied to the crow
family, is either killed by the customs off,
Gals on arrival or returned at the expense
of the owner.
Many new varieties of birds and animals
are being discovered in the Philippines, and
upon the recommendation of the scientists
of the biological survey these are being
held at ports Of entry until 1t be deter
mined whether their advent would be detri--
mental or beneficial to American farming
interests.
A number Of BIRDS reptiles and mammals,
Sucn as swans, Wlld doves, alllgatorS, tor
toises, elephants, armadllos, lions, rhi-
noceroses, panthers sloths, tapirs, ocelots,
etc, may be imported without permit.
1T Is not the desire of the Treasury De-
partment or the Department of Agriculture
unnecessarily to restrict importation of ami
mails and birds desired for exhibition in mu-
seums,' said DR.. Palmer, Except as re-
CARDS few varieties which are such a
menace that their escape from menageries
or geological gardens might work incon-
ceivable ruin upon agriculture. In the case,
therefore, of the mongoose, the starting the
flying fox and the English sparrow, we in
sist upon absolute exclusion, and unqualf-
fled detention in the case of such birds and
animals whose habits have not been de-
termined.
I'VE expect that the investigations con-
corning birds and mammals from the Phil
ippines viii result in important contribu-
tiops to science"