ATTRACTING THE WINTER BIRDS 107 



Under a later date Mrs. Bonner writes that this 

 method can be used successfully only at inter- 

 vals, as the birds soon " catch on." 



In a recent Farmers' Bulletin is given the fol- 

 lowing suggestion : To trap the sparrows a large 

 shallow box is made open on one side and covered 

 on the other with woven netting. The dimensions 

 may be about 4 feet square and 6 inches deep. 

 On a board a little larger than the box is placed 

 grain to serve as a bait. Over this is placed the 

 box tipped up on one edge and held up by a stick 

 18 inches long, to the upper end of which is 

 attached a long string. The birds are fed here 

 till they become accustomed to it and then are 

 trapped by pulling out the support by means of 

 the string. Through a small trap-door in the floor 

 the sparrows may be allowed to fall into a pail 

 containing sufficient water to drown them. In 

 place of the box, some heavy object may be used, 

 such as an old door, to serve as a deadfall. 



Poisoning the Sparrows. — During the winter 

 the sparrows may be poisoned, if care is taken to 

 see that no other birds eat the poisoned food. 

 That they can be kept in check by systematic 

 poisoning is shown by the experience of Mr. 

 Frank Bond, while a resident of Cheyenne, Wyo- 

 ming. Each winter a regular campaign was waged 



