PREFACE. 



THE publication of this little work on the Sparrow 

 Controversy has occurred thus : 



Owing to the great public interest taken in the subject, 

 from the increase in the number of sparrows and their 

 depredations in England, the Colonies and America, 

 some demand had arisen for a pamphlet issued by the 

 United States Government, by Dr. Elliott Coues, an 

 eminent American Ornithologist. As the pamphlet could 

 no longer be obtained from America, it was thought 

 desirable to reprint it. In connection, however, with 

 Dr. Coues' pamphlet, it seemed desirable to print at 

 the same time some account of the sparrow and its de- 

 predations in England. With this view, the services 

 of Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., and of Colonel C. Russell 

 were solicited, and kindly rendered, and their contribu- 

 tions form the principal contents of the present little 

 volume. Mr. Gurney is known as an Ornithologist, 

 and the author of works on his favourite science, and 

 has made the House Sparrow a subject of special study. 

 The perusal of his interesting and valuable contribution 

 will supply proofs of this. 



