THE ENGLISH SPARROW AND THE STARLING. 153 



pole, most of their nests can be reached and brouglit down. 

 This method promises most satisfactory results. They may 

 be easily driven from their roosting places by disturbing them 

 on several successive nights. A very efficaf^ious method is to 

 throw water upon them when at roost. In cities where hose- 

 pipe is available, the process is simple an'd certain. They 

 may be kept out of ornamental vines in the same manner, 

 particularly in tlie breeding season, when a thorough soaking 

 not only disconcerts the old birds and kills their young, but 

 at the same time does much good by soaking the vines and 

 washing out their filth. If a part of the birds are shot or 

 caught each time they are disturbed at their roosts, the re- 

 mainder are much less likely to return.'' 



Mrs. Mary Treat has recorded an ingenious experiment in 

 discouraging the English sparrows on her premises. "A few 

 years ago," she writes, "they were here in great numbers, 

 driving bluebirds and wrens and martins from their boxes. 

 At last I had boxes made on purpose for the plagues, with a 

 hinged cover, and allowed each occupant to lay the requisite 

 number of eggs, usually six, and commence to incubate, when 

 I would destroy the eggs without disturbing the nest. At llrst 

 the little simpletons, after making a great ado, would in a feu- 

 days thereafter again lay eggs in the same boxes. Sometimes 

 over thirty eggs were laid in one box. But even the English 

 sparrow finally learns prudence. Each year they appeared 

 in diminished numbers, and last- year only one pair attempted 

 to pre-empt a box and they left after the first setting of egj?s 

 was destroyed, and the bluebirds and wrens had peace.'' 



THE STARLING. 



The European starling in build and manner of flying re- 

 sembles the meadow lark. Its color is dark metallic green 

 flecked with cream-colored dots. In size it is similar to the 

 red-winged blackbird. Its food, like that of the robin, con- 

 sists of millipeds, spiders, bugs, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and 



