REMEDIES FOR THE SPARROW PEST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7739, 15 February 1905, Page 2

REMEDIES FOR THE SPARROW PEST.

• TUE ENGLISH. MAGPIE WILL NOT DO e (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Fob. 14. Ilcccnlly the Department of Agri culture received a letter from t Duncdin resident who advocated thi introduction' of consignments ol English magpies, with the idea ol keeping down the spurrow |>est. Tlki question wus referred to Sir 'J'. W, Kirk, Govercunen'l Biologist, who opjKjsed the proposal, us lie thought the introduction of thowc birds would result iu more hunn than good, lie wrote on the subject to Professor Theobald, Economic Zoologist to South Kensington Museum. Profestor Theobald has replied that he had received inquiries on the subject from a New Zealand resident, auj continues: "Although 1 never lived where magpies have been very abundant, us lliVy ure in Holland, I must say thu't us u general! friend of birds 1 do not like the magpie at all. He is .an arrant thief, and 1 nin sure you .would be. doing wrong if you allow his introductipn into New Zealand. As to their destruction of sparrows, 3 uin convinced that the magpie is |of no use whatever. Only once do I remember seeing magpies nesting I pear «, farm-house in. Norway, and I can quile .well renicttibcr,' seeing many sparrows there too, The uiagpip docs some good by eating snails, ..slugs, and some small rodents, but his evil habits in taking chicks, | young game, poultry, and gBJ „ e .•-'KSS. etc., more than countat>aluneo tile little good he may <to. No doubt [a few smull birds' eggs are also I taken, bat it loves the farmyard jbest, and it has even been recorded by Lord ililford as attacking an old donkey, and feeding on it after the animal:- death. I have had four weeks old chickens killed bv magpies, and, speaking general I v to vou as a naturalist and couiitrvmi.n, I say emphatically don't think of aillowing his introduction." Professor Theobald, who is an emln'-iit nuturaltse. sujß that in Engjnml they get rid of sparrows uy forming hjKii'row drubs, and paying a small Hum per dozen heads, with „, price fir tho most energetic worker at the end of the scusuw,.