Evening star., 1915-05-23

N 81 EW ENGLAND IS IN the thfoeB OF
M starting panic, and for the
benefit of people who know
nothing about a starting the explana-
tion is made that a starting is a bird.
1t is a European bird closely associat-
ed with Great Britain and Ireland, and.
although reproaches have been cast
upon its conduct in those and other
parts of the old world. it has been per-
mitted to exist. and poets have even
sung it's praises, although ornitholo-
gists have not gone wrong to that ex-
tent. Poets are very often led astray
by their sentiment and their passion
for rhyme.
If the Indictment against the startling
is truly drawn it would require an IN
senious advocate to devise defense
of it. The Audubon Society, the wan
derlusters, the Alpinoes and other
groups of enthusiasts who scour the
woods and open lands around Wash
ington with field glasses. microscopes,
flower books, etc. have not reported a
starting in our midst. but it may be
that the peril turks here unseen, and
at least there is no telling where 1t
may begin to exert its blighting and
devastating influence. The gypsy
moth peril, the chestnut blight peril.
the Japanese peril, the rum demon and
the cigarette curse have been thrown
into the discard, or at least into the
background, by this new terror in New
England.
For the quiet and peace of mind of
nervous and sensitive persons who
have not vet been brought face to face
with the dread and dire danger Of the
startling it is fair to say that the
starting is neither vampire nor a vul-
ture. The startling, which is also called
the stare" is a bird belonging to the
conirostral section of the order of pas
seres or perching birds. of the genus
Sturnus and the family Sturnidae. 1t
is a family of birds widely distributed
throughout the world and is allied by
blood as well as bones and feathers.
to the crows. The common starting.
found in almost all parts of Europe.
1t is between eight and nine inches in
length, the color Is blackish, with blue,
purplish or cupreous tcoppery) refec-
the extremity with whitish triangular
speck, giving the bird a speckled ap-
pearance. 1t is written by the friends
of this bird and it would seem that
there are persons who can write Of
him without malice. that the starlings
live mostly upon insects. build in old
walls and hollow trees and lay eggs
usually five-which are of pale blue
ish tint. 1t has also been written that
these birds are sometimes kept ir cages
in Ireland and England and that they
may be taught to whistle some tunes
and wen to pronounce words and sen
tences. There is bird In the United
States, the Agelaius phaeniceus, which
is commonly called the winged
starting and is relative of the Brit
ish starting. The rose-colored pastor
bird of Asia and Africa is a kinsman
of the British starting, and people who
have toured Sardinia have preserved
memories of the Sturnus unicolor.
which Is also allied with the British
startling. So it will be seen that the
British starting has many allies.
The United States was warned OF the
starting. 1t was said that it might IN
wade this country, and that II it but got
foothold on our coasts 1t would SUP
jugate the country and lay heavy trip-
ute on the farms. And II would collect
the tribute. Once on American soil. all
the native regular and volunteer birds
that could be mobilized and equipped
could not hold back the invaders. with
these things in mind, Congress. when II
enacted the Lacey bird law. excluded
the starting In 1890 or 1891 a small
collection Of starlings was liberated in
Central Park. They outgrew the park
and sought new worlds to conquer. ana
the state ornithologist OF Massachu,
fiercest anti-starling men in this coun-
try. has reported that this infamous
bird has spread over eight OF the east
ern states, and threatens to 40 10 we"
England what the grasshoppers and the
army worms tried to do TO hahsds anu
the boil weevil to the south.
The Boston Transcript, which holds
the startling up to the scorn or its read
ers, says: "It often happens that when
the Swiss farmer goes home for lunch
con flock of 10000 starlings swoops
down upon his vineyard and devours the
wears crop. New Zealand has had the
same disastrous experience with this
bird. Massachusetts is facing the pos
sibility of similar situation, and by
and by her farmers will be at the state
house clamoring for a million dollar
appropriation in yearly installments tol
fight the starting as today it is fighting
the gypsy moth, browntail moth. San
Jose scale and the foot and mouth dis
ease"
The state ornithologist of Massachu-
setts in his call for help against the
starting, says that hardly any fruit isl
immune against the attack OF this bird.
that he (the starling) has strong ap,
petite for apples. pears and plums. ana
that cherries, grapes ana straWoeIiles
he swallows at mouthful. Nothing
is said as to whether the starting VIII
eat cranberries. but it is alleged tnat
he will go into a pea patch. shell the
peas and eat them on the spot. And II
the startling will eat beans as well as
peas one can understand with Wnat
horror the people Of MASSACHUSETTS
may regard this bird.
1t 10 set down that English sparroWs
fly and nee before the approach OF TINS
bird, but whether this is to the creols
or to the discredit Of the startling 10