ONTARIO. 



inside the box fairly danced with dehght, and I ahnosl fancied 

 she made faces at the enemy as he struggled ineffectually to 

 gain admission, or sullenly but fruitlessly tried to widen the 

 aperture. 



Shortl}' after this dispute was settled, I noticed ten or 

 twelve Sparrows quietly at work at the grape vines, and feeling 

 pleased at the havoc they were apparently making among the 

 insects passed on, speculating on the increase of fruit I should 

 have. In the afternoon they had moved to another trellis, and 

 I thought "Well, they are doing the work systematically, and 

 no doubt effectual]}-." But shortly afterwards, while passing the 

 vines where they commenced, I observed a slight debris of 

 greenery on the ground. This led to an examination which 

 showed, to my intense mortification, that the heart had been 

 eaten out of ever}' fruit bud where the bu'ds had been, and noth- 

 ing was left but the outside leaves. The report of firearms was 

 heard several times in the garden that afternoon, many dead 

 and wounded Sparrows were left to the care of the cats, and 

 every crevice where the birds were known to breed was closed 

 up at once. 



Since then the Wrens have held possession of their box, and 

 with a little attention I can keep the Sparrows out of the garden, 

 for they find plenty of provender around the stables ; but they 

 are still on the increase, and if this continues in the future as in 

 the past, the time is not far distant when the streets and stable 

 yards will not furnish food enough, and there is no doubt that 

 they will then betake themselves to the fields and gardens, and 

 appropriate whatever suits them. This is the serious view of 

 the subject which has called for legislation in other countries, 

 and may do so here unless some unexpected check arises to pre- 

 vent the necessity for it. In the meantime it is well that all 

 parties having the opportunity, should take notes of the move- 

 ments and increase of the birds for future consideration. 



One of our most showy birds, and one which seems to 

 enjoy the society of man, is the Baltimore Oriole, whose clear, 

 flute-like notes are usually heard around our dwellings for the 

 first time in spring about the 8th of May, soon after which the 



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