86 



THE OOLOGISl 



bird's number annually. At a locali- 

 ty north of the city of Philadelphia 

 during the past four years I have 

 robbed the Swamp Sparow heavily, 

 collecting all the nests with sets in 

 them I could find (and I don't exag- 

 gerate when I say I know how to 

 and do find them,) and can positively 

 say that this wholesale (?) robbery 

 has not caused a decrease in the 

 birds numbers. Quite the contrary, 

 and the cause is obvious when I 

 mention that I have never molested 

 a second nest, which they build af- 

 ter the destruction or taking of their 

 first. Rob the birds of their first 

 and subsequent broods and in a year 

 or two will be seen a noticeable de- 

 crease in their numbers. 



The Swamp Sparrow must nest 

 latter in Chesterfield, Va., than in the 

 vicinity of Philadelphia, for fresh 

 sets after June 5 here are quite dif- 

 ficult to find, referring of course to 

 the first sets. 



In conclusion to these brief remarks 

 I would say that I should be very 

 glad to receive any information sent 

 to me or contributed to the Oologist 

 regarding the nidification and other 

 habits of the Swamp Sparrow, such 

 material of any valuable will be us- 

 ed by me in my contemplated paper 

 on the monograph of the Swamp 

 Sparrow and due credit given to all 

 whose data I may use. 

 October 25, 1906. 



BEFRIEND SWALLOW; 



KILL THE SPARROW. 



This is the Only Salvation of the 

 United States Cotton Crop. 



Washington, May 13. — The govern- 

 ment is asking people all over the 

 country to make war on the English 

 sparrow and to put up bird houses 

 and bore holes under the eaves of 

 the barns to encourage the swallow. 



This measure is made imperative 

 in order that the cotton industry of 

 the United States may not be destroy- 

 ed. 



All insect-eating birds are of im- 

 mense value to the fai'mer and the 

 forester, but it has been discovered 

 by the government bug experts that 

 there is' no bird equal to the swallow. 

 Particularly is this true in the mat- 

 ter of the insect which is destroying 

 the cotton plantations of the south. 



The boll weevil, despite every ef- 

 fort to stay its march, is spreading 

 at the rate of about 50' miles a year 

 and sooner or later it is said that it 

 is certain to infest the entire cotton 

 producing area — a fact which not 

 only seriously concerns the southern 

 planter, but in its ultimate conse- 

 quences affects the well being of the 

 whole country. 



The aid of the north is required, 

 as most of the swallows spend part 

 of the season in the northern states 

 and in many cases do their nesting 

 there. The bird is disappearing, 

 however, because the English spar- 

 row harries him and kills his young 

 by the thousands. 



Various methods of exterminating 

 the English sparrow are recommend- 

 ed by the department. Most of them 

 consist in the use of poisoned grain. 



QUESTIONS, NOTES AND COM- 

 MENTS. 



Warren, Pa., May 26, '07. 

 Editor "Oologist," 



Dear Sir: — 



The past winter was rather tame. 

 At no time did we have over a foot 

 of snow although there was consider- 

 able cold weather. Although not un- 

 usually severe it brought a large 

 flight of white-winged crossbills and 

 a good many grosbeaks. 



The crossbills came early. A few 

 put in an appearance in late October 



