THE SMALL BIRD PEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13208, 15 February 1905, Page 5

THE SMALL BIRD PEST.

THE INTRODUCTION OF MAGPIES, (Per United. Puf.ss Association.) WELLINGTON, February 14. Recently the Department of Agriculture received a letter from a Dunedin resident who advocated the introduction of a consignment of English magpies, with the idea of keeping down , the-sparrow pest. The question was referred to Mr T. W. Kirk, the Government Biologist, who opposed tho proposal, as he thought tho introduction of tho bird would result in more harm than good He wrote on,tho subject to Professor Theobald, of Wye Agricultural Collego and Economic Zoologist to the South Kensington Museum. • Professor Tb«oba!d has replied that he has received inquiries on the subject from a New Zealand resident, and continues:—"Although I never lived ..whore-magpies have been very abundant, as they are,in.Holland, I must say that as a general friend of birds I do not like the magpie at all. He i 3 an arrant thief,'and lam sure,you would bo doing wrong if you allow liis introduction into New Zealand. As to their destruction of sparrows, I am- convinced that the bird •is of no use whatever. Only once do I romember seeing magpies nesting near a farmhouse in Noriyay, and I quite well remember seeing hiany sparrows there too. Tho magpie does some good-by eating snails, slugs, and some small rodents,'but his evil habits in taking chicks, young game, poultry, and games eggs, etc., more than counterbalance tho little good lie niay do. No doubt a few small birds' eggs are also taken, but it loves the farmyard best; and it has oven been recorded by Lord Milford as attacking an old donkejy and feeding on it after tho animal's death. ' I have hail foiir-weelts-old chickens killed by magpies; and sjioaking generally to you as a naturalist and countryman, I say emphatically don't think. of allowing his introduction." Theobald, who is an eminent naturalist, says that in England they get rid of the sparrows bv forming sparrow clubs and paying a small sum per dozen heads, with a prize for the "most energetio member at the end of the season.