MAKING SURROUNDINGS ATTRACTIVE 249 



or bring to naught much of what has been done. When 

 surroundings are favourable and birds yet remain scarce, 

 the probability is that it is overrun with silent yet destruc- 

 tive agencies. Careful attention and vigilance should be di- 

 rected to the problem. 



English Sparrow. It is almost hopeless to expect many 

 birds to nest in boxes where this species is abundant. 

 Though birds of other sorts may not be entirely prevented 

 from nesting, their numbers will be materially lessened. 

 On a certain estate I was asked to ascertain why native 

 birds did not come to occupy the boxes put up for them. 

 Examination revealed the fact that English sparrows 

 abounded on the place and had nests in all the boxes. 

 The first thing I did was to instruct the gardener how to 

 clean out the sparrows. Baron von Berlepsch fights them 

 ceaselessly on his estate. His assertion is correct that " the 

 increase of other kinds is in inverse ratio to the decrease of 

 sparrows." 



European Starling. The European starling, introduced 

 about twenty-five years ago into New York City, has spread 

 over most of the Eastern seaboard districts and is con- 

 stantly extending its range. Probably in time starlings 

 will be all over the country. They are about the size of 

 the cowbird and not unUke it in appearance. Adults are 

 black, with some brownish markings, and a yellow bill, the 

 young being duller. When you see "a blackbird with a 

 yelfow bill" it is the advance guard of the host. In some 

 locaUties, in fall and winter, they roam in flocks of hundreds 

 and even thousands. As with the EngUsh sparrow, there 

 seems to be no check upon their increasing hordes, for they 

 are equally hardy amd pugnacious. They nest in hollow 

 trees, holes in buildings, in towers and cupolas, or other such 

 places. They appropriate all available holes, and drive 



