Feb. S, '\dOS.] Agricultural Gazelle of X.S. jr. 181 



6, 8uc'h societies should make it a part of their regular yearly work — 



1. To offer jirize.s for eggs and heads. 



2. To organise the members into actively fighting the Sparrow in 



some recognised uniform manne)', chietiy by means of a yearly 

 winter crusade and by destruction of nes's. 



7. Tt should h'i a part of tie curriculum in all schools, in connection 



with Nature study, to instruct scholars as to the life history, good 

 and evil deeds of the connmm animals, especially instilling into 

 young minds the necessity of following up this knowdedge by 

 " protecting the useful " and " destroying the noxious." Much 

 can be done by encouraging "the boy" to a lifelong Sparrow war. 

 This trouble is largely a matter of education. Thei'e should be a 

 " Bird Day " in all schools, and special instruction, looking to the 

 desired end. 

 S. Every effort should be made to pre\ent the Spn-row from making 

 good a footing in any district at present unoccupifd, or where a 

 few are present. In the early days of its settlement it should be 

 pursued relentlessly until exterminated, an end that can in such 

 cases be attained. 



Su(/gestions in detail, more pa7'ticidarly for l.lte man hitprpsled. 



The Sparrow is a cunning and wary bird, which learns to avoid poisoned 

 food and traps after a few have ti'ied them and succumbed. We must, there- 

 fore, meet cunning with cunning and endeavoui' to present things to him in 

 such a way that they do not look like '' preparation," but as natural as 

 possible. 



Every grower who is interested in the subject — and there can Ije l)ut few 

 who are not sufferers in one way or another — should help the matter on, by 

 urging his local society to take tlie matter up anfl organise a s}stematic plan 

 of operations for the district. When this is done, everyone should join in 

 the matter heartily, carry out the instructions faithfully, and follow up the 

 proceedings by undertaking such oHier suitable things on his own initiative 

 as he is able to adopt, with the one end in view — destruction of the Sparrow. 

 Most men only want to know what to do, and to see others do the same 

 thing, when they will act likewise. 



Destroy the nests and disturb t'le roosting-places. — Probably, the best 

 result in any Sparrow crusade wdl be attained by regularly and systematically 

 preventing the Sparrow from building ; or, wdiere nests are found, allowing the 

 eggs to hatch and then destroying the young; the latter is the better plan. 



It is believed that, in the fact that the Sparrow never nests far from build- 

 ings, lies the key to the whole question of preventing increase in this pest. 

 The nests are always close at hand ; the only requirement is never to let the 

 young get away. 



A hook of bent wire attached to a baml)oo makes a useful itistrumeut for 

 destroying the nests. 



The offering of prizes at local shows is a great inducement to this ^^irticular 

 end. 



