Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-07
Bird Imported From Europe
an Undesirable Citizen.
HIS HABITS HERE ARE BAD
Eats Small Grains and Fruits and
Does Other Damage.
POPULAR IN HOME ABROAD
Like English Sparrow, He Changed
Mode of Life in Land
Of Liberty.

The government has taken warning
from the experience with the English
sparrow, and in a circular to customs in
spectors just issued by the Treasury De-
partnent the Secretary of Agriculture is
made the arbiter Of the fate Of birds and
beasts brought to this country. and he
has put the European starting on the pro-
hibi;ed list along with the mongoose. the
English sparrow and the fruit-eating bats.
This country ia already tasting the re-
suits Of starting importation. The
bird was brought here some years ago.
and it has spread south from New York
rs far as Philadelphia. and Is moving
west. 1t is an eater of small grains and
il is feared if it gets into the wheat belt
there will be serious trouble.
The starting is a native of Europe and
Is not troublesome bird there any
more than Is the English sparrow. but
New zealand and Australia have had
experiences with it and it is characterized
there as pest. There are a good many
defenders Of the bird. because it is partly
tnfectivorous in it's native haunts, but 1t
has been found that where 1t was intro
duced into Australia and New Zealand
il enlarged its field of operations and not
only became a fruit eater and pest to
grain farmers. but ate some of the desir-
able insects and the eggs and young of
native birds.
Not Bad-Looking Bird.
1t is not a bad-looking bird, either
1t - not so aggressive as the English
sparrow, and. as. it IL bigger. it will be
easier to handle in case crusade is in
stituted against the specimens that are
already in this country. 1t is nearly as
Big as an American robin, though it is
trimmer. slighter bird. and its spreckled
plun1age ia more attractive than the dull
brown Of the English sparrow.
Its Introduction into this country was
the work Of several acclimitzaton soci-
cites. The bird was at first protected by
law, but since. 1t has been found to be
neen lifted and now any one Is free to
Kill II.
The bird is .outla~ed by the govern
Haents of New Zealand and Tasmania,
does no end of damage to the small
the Department of Agriculture has
been hard put 10 determine where to
native birds do in eating fruit and in
destroying insects. The catbirds, the
robins and the martins are all con-
nrmed small fruit thieves, and yet all
protection for their insect eating
The biological survey has. therefore,
ISSUED statement as to the damage
done by the native birds. 1t says that
while the damage that catbirds and
robins do to a big orchard is immateri-
al. they do eat enough to make serious
inroads where there are Just few trees
or q small berry patch for family.
Prefers Wild Fruits.
The department has found, however,
that where there are either mulbeI ries
or wild cherries, generally known as
rum Cherries the birds will leave the
cultivated fruit in favor Of the wild
II Is, therefore, recommended by the
department that householders who want
to save their fruit, and at the same time
10 protect the birds, should plant early
varieties of mulberries or wild cherries on
the same tract with their cultivated fruit
The biological survey has struck a
curious fact in connection with the So
extent around here and In greater album
dance further south and west. 1t is q lit
tie dark green bird with a crimson tuft
Of feathers on top Of its head. This tuft
n usually hidden, but can be raised and
looks like a small red flower. 1t is bait
for insects, and the bird gets its name
from the bees, on which IL principally
feeds
1t has been found by the survey that
the bees il eats are nearly all drones.
Whether the bird has some way of tell
not known. but the fact remains that II
cas- drones almost to the exclusion OF
working bees. 1t destroys a good many
ether noxious insects, and is considered
valuable for that reason. and the damage
that il does to beekeepers Ii infnitesmal.