The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-12-07
WITHDRAWS PRO- FICTION FROM ELL
 ROPEAN SPARKLING
Department of Agriculture Finds Imported Bird Useful Iin Certain Particulars, But a Pest to OrchaTSIists and an Enemy of Native Birds.

Washington. Dec. 7-In it's annual re- port for the last nscai year, the Bureau of Biological Survey Of the U. S. De- partment of Agricultrre reports as follows on the European starling
 Introduced into the United States nearly 26 years ago, the European starling has gradually extended it's range from New York city. and now 1t is found in the neighboring states of Connecticut, New Jersey. New York, Pennsy1vania and Massachusetts Dur ing it's nnigrations in search or food il ranges much farther from the orig tnal center and occurs in considerable numbers as far south even as the Dis trdct of Coluznbia
 The starling Is markedly insectivor- Olls, especially in summer and preys upon many noxious varieties In this respect 1t igl to be chased among our useful birds. So far as is known, 1t crops, but 1t is known to be very fond of small fruits, and as 1t associates in large hocks 1t IS likely to become a pest to the orchardist In addition 1t prefers tree cavities, boxes, or recesses in buildings for nesting sites and thus Is brought into direct competition with. certain Of the useful native birds, more particularly the bIuebird, purple mar tin. white bel1ted swallow. house wren. and flicker
 The bird Is steadily extending it's territory, and 1t will be wise to with draw all protection from 1t, as has already been done in Connecticut New Jersey. New Fork and Pennsylvanfa. including the center of it's abundance with a view of checking its increase and spread The shipment of these birds from one state to another has been prohibited under heavy penalty by act of Congress. Under ordinary
  ton is withdrawn, the bird will prob ably prove to be capable of taking care of itseIf That ultimately it will spread over a large part of the United States Is highly probable.
 In addition to studying the stariing, the Biological Survey studied the eco homie status Of many other birds largely through the method of sanaiyz- Ing the food in their stonachs to de- ter1nine whether their feeding habits were helpful or destructive to agrfcu1- ture- As a result Of this study, n enemies of the boil weevtl, making a total of 64 thus far discovered.
 In the matter of the alfalfa weevil p species of birds as we'll as frogs. toads and the salamander were found To feed upon this beetle. The most active enemies of the weevi1 among the birds ara the Brewer bIackbfrd. the western neadowfarA the valley quail. and the EngTish sparrow. Tl1at vertee Rocky Mountain toad renders good service in destroying breeding adult Insects in spring and larvae later In the year
 An examination of the stouachs Of 700 birds seems to indicate that birds are of no value as enemies Of the range caterpiIIars Nam ma1s, particularly the skunk, seem to De the important enemies of this pest. During the year permits were issued Tor importing 475,S92 birds. among which were 36S676 canaries, s6. .76o par zr1dges, and 4,d4s pheasants. There was a noticeable increase in the i'm sortatfon of cartridges, as number or states, including Iowa and Oregon, are experimenting in the introduction 5f these game birds for restocking purposes