128 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



has published interesting reports. At the request of the 

 Board I sent in the year 191 3, twenty-two nestlings of the 

 Black-headed Gull, caught and chloroformed at a gullery on 

 Tentsmuir, to their secretary, Dr Francis Ward. The 

 sentence of the Report which deals with these birds may 

 be allowed to speak for itself. " Twenty-two nestlings of the 

 Black-headed Gull were examined. These were obtained 

 from a gullery 150 to 300 yards from high-water mark, and 

 1^ miles from several small artificial lochs stocked with trout. 

 An analysis of the food contained shows that the material 

 destroyed was distinctly in favour of the agriculturist. There 

 were present, remains of 2 small fish, 33 useful beetles, and 

 6 earthworms. On the other hand, 5 1 harmful beetles and 

 insects, and 3 1 wireworms were destroyed." At the ensuing 

 general meeting of the Board it was decided to continue the 

 investigation, and to devote particular attention to the land 

 feeding habits of the gulls in the district, in order to 

 investigate whether the harm done to fish and fish food 

 was counterbalanced by the benefits derived by the 

 agriculturist. 



The Sparrow is a bird which is undoubtedly very much 

 too abundant. It is prolific, often rearing three broods in a 

 season, it is adaptive, and it has few enemies ; while being 

 practically omnivorous, it is never at a loss for food. Yet 

 even the destruction of the Sparrow should be undertaken 

 with caution ; for the very fact that the Board of Agriculture 

 have thought it necessary to remind those about to embark on 

 this crusade that the bird concerned is the " House Sparrow," 

 points out the dangers with which their action is attended. 

 Members of Sparrow Clubs are as likely as not neither to 

 know, nor to wish to know, the difference between the habits 

 of Sparrows and those of other small birds. Moreover, the 

 Sparrow is particularly well able to take care of himself. 

 During a long convalescence after a serious illness, I once 

 possessed myself of a collecting gun, with the intention of 

 waging a war against the Sparrows whose nests were much 

 in evidence around my chair. The principal result was that 

 I learned the wariness of the Sparrow when danger threatens. 

 The bag of a Sparrow Club is not unlikely to number the 



