EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 217 



makes it a misdemeanor to harbor or protect them ; while Michigan pays a 

 bounty of three cents for each sparrow's head. Over twenty of the remain- 

 ing states give the English sparrow the same protection that is offered to 

 other birds. The remaining states have no laws on the subject. 



The first thing that should be done to check the sparrows' increase is 

 the repeal of all laws offering them protection. Doubtless many who 

 would turn their hand against the sparrow are prevented from doing so 

 by bird laws. As recommended by Mr. Barrows, it may be best that one 

 able man should be employed in every town and city to superintend a 

 systematic warfare against the English sparrow. No matter how much 

 farmers and gardeners desire to destroy these birds, it will be of compara- 

 tively little avail so long as the sparrows are permitted to stay in their 

 great breeding haunts — the cities — unmolested. The alarming rate at 

 which the sparrows have increased during the past few years, shows only 

 too clearly that some action is necessary. No doubt a bounty helps to 

 lessen their numbers; but it is a question if this is the best way to 

 exterminate the English sparrow. This method has been employed in 

 Michigan since 1887, and has been found an expensive method of lessening 

 their number. The greatest objection — that other species of birds are 

 killed by careless persons for English sparrows — would apply as well to 

 any other means of destruction. The scheme for offering liberal prizes for 

 the greatest number of birds killed in any given territory is worth con- 

 sidering. If the prizes are sufficiently large many persons will compete, 

 and great destruction to the sparrows would result. Whatever means are 

 employed, it is of the greatest importance that all states and territories 

 infested be united in their efforts, and all employ some good means of 

 eradication. One or two states alone can accomplish but little, as the 

 sparrows are spreading so rapidly that the birds would migrate from other 

 states near by as fast as those within the state limits were destroyed. 



No one should receive sparrows on a bounty or prize that has not 

 thoroughly studied the bird. Far too many of the town clerks in Michi- 

 gan do not know the English sparrow's head from that of a linnet or 

 thrush. As a result, a great many birds that have been sent in for a 

 bounty are our most beneficial birds. Thus many heads have been sent to 

 this station, on which a bounty was claimed, of such valuable birds as the 

 song sparrow, red-polled linnet, and evening grosbeak; birds that our laws 

 protect by a fine of $5.00 against their slaughter. We have a good law 

 against destroying native birds, and every person presenting such a bird 

 to the town clerk's office should pay the penalty, which is a fine of $5.00. 

 During the past few months a number of letters have been received at the 

 station asking for information on the subject. The following is a sample 

 received from Midland county: 



Ingersoll, April 7, 1890. 



The Republican of March 27, 1890, states that sparrow bounty orders have been issued 

 by the county clerks from July 10, 1889, to March 26, 1890, for 15,697 sparrow heads. 

 This calls for §470.91. The most of these birds were killed in the fields; they are about 

 one half as large as the English sparrow, and sing and fly like yellow birds. 



E. W. Phetteplace. 



Most of these birds were red polled linnets, several heads of which 

 have been received by us, from Saginaw county, where they were offered for 

 bounty. The bounty in this case is $5.00 for each bird killed, to the state, 

 from him who kills the birds. 

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