The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-06-19

ever the bird has gone trouble has fol-
lowed, and it is a safe assertion that
none of these countries but would be
very willing to get rid of the sparrow.
even at the cost of the return of the
minor pests. of which the sparrow was
the promised exterminator.
The sparrow is not the only animal
pest that has been introduced into the
United States. but the others have
proved only mildly troublesome in COM
pJrison. Half dozen species of rats.
that have no special business here, wor-
~ American housekeepers. and there
are birds that have been brought over
by amateur scientists as TO the value
of which professional scientists are
very vague IN their minds. But the
sparrow is the king bee Of them all; If
there should be a second edition Of this
trouble II would probably prove 10 be
more than the long-suffering American
even could stand
Several species that il has been sought
TO introduce have been kept out Of the
country through the active efforts OF
the Department of Agriculture Notable
among this class IS the flying fox, or
fruit-eating bat In 1898 an animal OF
this species arrived from Australia on
board the steamship MenOwai. from
Australia. II had taken refuge on the
vessel off the Australian coast and cap
tured and kept as a pet by one or the
Messengers 1t was promptly killed by
the quarantine officer at San Francisco,
and four more, which arrived In cap
tivtty two months later from China,
met the same fate. Attention was
called 10 the danger Of the new pest
and one OF the regulations adopted by
the State board of horticulture In the
following year prohibited the importa-
ton of these animals into California
Just Huge Bat.
The flying fox is in reality a huge bat,
of which there are some fifty species. in
habiting the tropics of the Old World.
from Madagascar and the Comor Is
lands. east TO Australia and the Samoan
Islands. and north to India. the Malay
Archiuelago, and southern Japan. They
are Of all sizes, the largest OF them
being the Malay fruit bat. which meas
ures more than five feet across the tips
OF the wings.
In Australia these bats are described
as living In immense communities or
camps" IN the most inaccessible parts
OF the dense scrub of gullies and
swamps. Here they may be seen by
thousands, frequently crowded so thick
ly on the trees that large branches are
broken By their weight. They fly con-
siderable distances in search of food,
sallying forth IN hocks about sunset
and returning to their camps before
dawn. In New South Wales. and more
especially in Queensland, flying foxes
are one OF the worst pests of the fruit
grower. and are described as a plague
which threatens the fruit-growing indus
try In a large part OF Australia. They
are particularly injurious 70 figs. bana-
mas. peaches, and other soft fruit, and IL
is estimated that the damage done to
orchards In the coast district of New
South Wales amounts to many thous-
ands Of pounds annually. Various ex-
peo.ents have been suggested 70 pro
tect orchards from their depredations
Rags dipped in melted sulphur and hung
among the branches, netting placed over
the trees. and wires suspended around
the trees. and even stretched close to-
gether from poles and covering the whole
orchard have been tried. but apparent
ly without much success.
Dynamite as Destroyer.
The most practical method is to de-
stroy the bats In their camps. A few
years ago the minister for mines and
dkEitGiluIe LOT New South Wales SIM
piled ammunition for this purpose, and.
after considerable expenditure OF powder
and shot. about 100000 foxes were de-
stroyed, at cost of about so cents
apiece. Wholesale destruction with
dynamite was suggested. and expert
ments with high explosives were made
by the department of agriculture
Charges Of roburite q 10 pounds) and
gun cotton 2A pounds. connected with
wires so that they could be fired bv an
electric current. were placed I'm the
branches of trees where the bats were
accustomed 10 roost. The bats carefully
avoided the trees in which explosives
were hung. and when the charges were
fired none was killed. even among those
roosting in neighbOring trees.
Since nearly all the species of flying
foxes are natives OF the tropics. il h
hardly likely that they could gain a foot
hold in the United States, except in the
South. but there is a serious danger OF
their introduction into the Hawaiian