Feb. 3, 1[){}S.'] AffricuUural Gazette of N.SJF. 127 



The House Sparrow in Neaa' South AYales. 



[Continued from Defember, 1907, page 917.] 



C. T. MUSSON. 



As to .sparroics destroyed t/iro/Kjh the ayeiicij of sjjcirroio clnhs and adion of 



societies, 



A considei'able amount of goxl work has been done, l)ut tlie eSbrts have 

 been spasmodic and wanting in uniformity. Ti'apping is resorted to where 

 there are sparrovv cdubs. A number of societies have for some years given 

 prizes for eggs and heads with satisfactory results. One society (Hawkesbury 

 distiict) last year held a sparrow crusade, poisoning a considerable number. 

 Large nuiid)ers of Ijirds have been destroyed, and the success attained points 

 to a still greater success that would certainly attend an organised general 

 crusade. 



^.s- to the prevai/ iiKj sentimeut icith respect to the !-pnrrou\ 



The bird is universally condemned. 



As to suggestions received. 

 These probably cover the whole conceivable range of the subject, and can 

 be roughly epitomised as follows : — 



The authorities to take the matter in hand. 

 The societies to take the matter in hand. 

 Bonus to be given. 



Reguhir crusade should Ije organised. 



The authorities to advise best means ; societies and individuals to 

 carry out the details. 

 Killing the fledged young is the best method of takins' advantaue of the 

 usefuhiess of the spari'ow, and at the same time checking its ravages 

 amongst grain. 



Conclusions arrived at. 

 The sparrow is widely distributed ; it is here to stay, and has to be reckoned 

 with as a rapidly-increasing enemy to be combated before it becomes too 

 oppie«sive in its detrimental action. 

 It certainly does good in destroying insects. A service whicli cannot be 



calculated and is frequently overlooked. 

 The damage don^ far outweighs the good, probably as 8 to 2. 

 Damagv; is greatest when the pest is present in numbers. 

 The sparrow was of no serious importance as a pe-st prior to 1890. 

 It is only within the last ten years it has spread widely and increased so 



much as to become a sorious pest. 

 On large areas witli spjr.se population we have ditticulties in dealing wi'h the 



bird not found where areas are smaller and population denser. 

 It has spread beyond the Darling, and is found in the dry western country 



as far as Milparinka. 

 It has become a menace to thf agi'icultural industry and to fruitgrowers, and 

 should lie promptly checked. 



