BY A FRIEND OF THE FARMERS. 39 



wished that some colonies of them should be encouraged, 

 that people might see what they are like. Farmers par- 

 ticularly have an interest in doing this ; it is very import- 

 ant to them that people in towns and villages should have 

 some motive for destroying sparrows. 



One accusation, and only one, is commonly made 

 against martins ; that they bring bugs into houses : after 

 full and careful investigation I can say with certainty that 

 this is a mistake, but it is a very natural one for those 

 who do not look closely into such things. Martins' nests 

 are infested by a parasite nearly allied to that in question ; 

 this is a distinct species, never grows to half the size of 

 the other, its habits are different — for instance, it will come 

 out of the nest and run about in full daylight, when seen 

 much to the detriment of the poor martins ; it will not 

 live in a house, and is perfectly harmless to man. In 

 proof of this, mumbers of martins' nests have been built 

 on my house for many years ; there are now, besides those 

 on outbuildings adjoining, thirty-nine nests built on the 

 house near the windows, and there is not a bug in it ; not 

 one of these, or of several other parasites that infest the 

 birds and their nests, have ever been seen in the house. 

 Swallows' nests are infested by a very similar parasite, 

 but larger and of a darker colour, also perfectly harmless 

 to man. These must often fall from the nests down the 

 chimneys, but are never found living in a house ; for- 

 tunately for the swallows, their nests are where people 

 cannot see these parasites about them, and the swallows' 

 reputation is not damaged. 



A few words may here not be out of place about the 

 effect on the number of other birds of the absence of 

 sparrows from my place, and of the consequent abundance 

 of martins. Before and since the martins have become 



