250 The Ottawa Naturalist. | March 



During harvest, when they can get grain easily, they leave 

 the shelter of buildings and, by thousands, pillage the fields, 

 causing great damage. At this time, very few weed-seeds were 

 found in their stomachs, grain being evidently preferred to weed- 

 seeds when available. 



It appears, therefore, that there is little to he said in favour 

 of the English Sparrow. Its weed-seed eating habits are credit- 

 able, as far as they go, but they are insignificant because the 

 damage done to grain far overbalances the benefit derived from 

 weed-seed destruction. Adding to this the injury it does about 

 buildings by its filthy habits, and the fact that it drives away 

 other birds beneficial in their habits, there is no escape from the 

 conclusion that this bird is a serious pest, the extermination of 

 which would be an unmixed blessing. 



The Chipping Sparrow is not so well known generally as 

 the English Sparrow, but is of much greater benefit to the farmer. 

 Much service is rendered in destroying weed-seeds, but the 

 greatest utility of the species is shown in its animal food, the 

 greater part of which consists of noxious insects. Practically 

 no grain was found in the stomachs examined, although the 

 birds were shot in grain-fields. This, therefore, proves con- 

 clusively that they are not injurious to our grain crops. 



The Vesper Sparrow, like the Chipping Sparrow, is also 

 very beneficial. Its diet varies with the season. During spring 

 and Fall, when insects are scarcer, its food consists to a large 

 extent of weed-seeds, but during the summer months, its work 

 as a destroyer of injurious insects is very great, measured by 

 the sparrow standard. 



Unlike the English Sparrow, it feeds farther out in the field, 

 and hence the weed-seed consumption is a direct benefit. Its 

 value to the farmer is beyond question, and should secure for it 

 the fullest protection. It may be easily distinguished from the 

 injurious English Sparrow by the 2 white feathers in the tail, 

 and it is hoped that people will soon learn to distinguish these 

 two birds, and thereby save many of these useful little songsters 

 from an untimely death. 



The Song Sparrow also, taking the food habits as a whole, 

 this bird does much more good than harm, and is worthy of pro- 

 tection and encouragement. Its food is composed chiefly of in- 

 sects, the greater part of which are injurious ; it is, however, 

 also a weed-seed destroyer, particularly in autumn. . 



Experience has also shown that while this bird will not re- 

 fuse grain during harvest, yet the injury .cau&eri~in this way is 

 inconsiderable. ^jA^'w^/X 



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