8 OUR WINTER BIRDS 



Sparrow was believed to eat about one-fourth of an 

 ounce of weed-seeds dally. At this rate, the total 

 consumption for the season would be 1,750,000 

 pounds, or 875 tons ! Is this not Indeed an almost un- 

 believable amount? Still, Professor Beal tells us that 

 these figures ^'unquestionably fall short of reality." 



Now I have no doubt that In the state of Iowa, 

 as well as in all the other states inhabited by the 

 Tree Sparrow in winter, few farmers realize what 

 an invaluable helper they have In this little, brown, 

 streaked Sparrow. But if some one were to adver- 

 tise in the papers of Iowa that he intended to sow 

 875 tons of weed-seed in the state, do you believe 

 that he would be permitted to do it? Would he not 

 be branded as an enemy of every citizen of the com- 

 monwealth, who, if he persisted in his evil intent, 

 should be placed under arrest? 



Just one kind of Sparrow actually prevents Nature 

 from sowing these tons of seeds, and what reward 

 does it receive? Do we give It a vote of thanks? 

 No ! Often the State has not given it the legal pro- 

 tection it so well deserves. The Government at 

 Washington has therefore taken the Tree Sparrow, 

 and all other migratory birds, under Its care as 

 wards of the nation, and hereafter they may travel 

 throughout our land as Citizens of the United States 

 under the guardianship of Federal law. 



