REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGIST AND MAMMALOGIST. 239 



of the Warbling Vireo in the absence of the parent birds, pull out one at a time the 

 four half-fledged occupants, and drop them on the ground. After partly destroying 

 the nest the Sparrows alighted on the gi-ound beside their victims, and, being re- 

 enforced by several of their kin, proceeded to enjoy the sanguinary repast. 



Numerous parallel cases have been reported, and will be published 

 in the bulletin on the Sparrow question. 



The Sparroiv an enemy to the gardener and fruit-groiver. 



In addition to the indirect injury thus brought about by depriving 

 our gardens and orchards of the protection afforded by our native 

 insectivorous birds, the Sparrows cause a positive and direct loss to 

 our agricultural industries amounting in the aggregate to not less than 

 several millions of dollars per annum. The damage done by the Rice- 

 bird is limited to a single crop, and takes place during a few weeks in 

 spring and fall, but the ravages of the English Sparrow affect almost 

 every crop produced by the farmer, fruit-grower, and truck gardener, 

 and extend over the entire year. Indeed, it is safe to say that it now 

 exerts a more marked effect upon the agricultural interests of this 

 country than any other species of bird; and its unprecedented increase 

 and spread, taken in connection with the extent of its ravages in cer- 

 tain districts, may be regarded with grave apprehension. In the early 

 spring it prevents the growth of a vast quantity of fruit by eating the 

 germs from the fruit-buds of trees, bushes, and vines, of which the 

 peach, pear, plum, cherry, apple, apricot, currant, and grape suffer 

 most. 



" Lettuce, peas, beets, radishes, cabbages, and caulifiovt^er are attacked in turn, and 

 devom-ed as soon as they show their heads above the ground, and in many cases the 

 seed is taken out of the earth before it has germinated. So extensive is the injury 

 thus done, that in many localities it has been found necessary to cover the garden- 

 beds with netting. Whenever the buds are so fortunate as to escape, the ripening 

 fruit appeals strongly to the Sparrow's appetite, and different varieties are attacked, 

 injured, or destroyed in turn as they mature. All sorts of garden products, vegeta- 

 bles, berries, grapes, and even the larger fruits, are greedily fed upon or mutilated 

 to such an extent as to unfit them for market. The magnitude of the havoc wrought 

 in orchards and vineyards is shown by the melancholy accounts given by fruit- 

 growers in every section of the country where it has become numerous." (Hoad- 

 ley MS.) 



Mr. Jabez Webster, of Centralia, 111., writes: 



I have seen flocks of fifty or more stay about my raspberries, constantly flying 

 backwards and forwards, taking quarts of the best "fruit, and coming very close to 

 the pickers. 



Mr. W. C. Percy, of Black Hawk, La., writes: 



They destroy more tomatoes, peas, beans, &c., than any other bird. In 1884 and 

 1885 they ruined the peach and apple crop. 



Mr. John H. Strider, of Halltown, W. Ya., writes: 

 It nips fruit blossoms, desti-oys early peas and cabbages, and later in the seacon 

 garden seeds ; is very destructive to sunflower seed. 



Norman A. Wood, of Saline, Mich., writes: 



They eat green peas as fast as they grow ; also raspberries, blackberries, and straw- 

 beiTies. 



H. H. Beeson, of New Market, N. C, writes: 



They peck grapes, strawberries, tomatoes, pliuns, peaches, and pears, causing them 

 to decay. 



Mr. F. M. Webster, of La Fayette, Ind., writes: 



The English Sparrow is destroying my apples. I have two or three trees in my 

 garden, and as soon as the frmt gets meUow the Sparrows peck holes in it, and it 



