NESTING-HOUSES 69 



in large numbers with great enthusiasm, which 

 showed how easily this locality might be made a 

 paradise for birds were it not for the discourag- 

 ing intervention of that annoying pest, the Eng- 

 lish sparrow. 



In the fall statistics were gathered from the 

 children relative to their experiences with the 

 bird-houses, and the results are given below. 



In 33 moving or suspended houses 34 pairs o£ 

 birds began to nest (12 of bluebirds, 12 of wrens, 

 3 of robins, 1 starhng, 6 of English sparrows) ; 

 young were reared in 8 (2 bluebird, 4 wren, 

 2 sparrow) ; birds were driven away from 6 

 houses by the sparrows (3 bluebird, 2 wren, 1 

 robin). In three other moving houses the spar- 

 rows attempted to drive out the inmates, but 

 were unsuccessful. They also tried to dislodge 

 the starlings, but were unable to do so, one of 

 the sparrows being killed in the fight. 



In 27 stationary houses 25 pairs of birds began 

 to build nests (13 of bluebirds, 7 of wrens, 2 of 

 robins, 3 of sparrows) ; 15 reared young (8 blue- 

 bird, 5 wren, 1 robin, 1 sparrow); the birds were 

 driven from three houses (2 wrens, 1 robin) by 

 the English sparrow. 



The results show that the English sparrows 

 were not outwitted by the device of a moving 

 house. The sparrows began to build in six of 



