REPORT OF THE ORNITHOLOGIST AXD MAMMALOGIST. 245 



Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jr., a well-known British ornitliologist, says: 



I think they do enough harm to \^■an•ant everybody in destroying them. Say one- 

 fifth of good to four-fifths of liarm is about what they do, take the countiy all over, 

 thougli at certain times and places they do nothing but harm. I have striven to say 

 all I could in then- favor, being naturally a lover of birds. 



The destriictive habits of the English Sparrow in Bermuda, Cuba, 

 England, Germany, Austria, Russia, India, Egypt, and Australia are 

 too well known to require more than passing observation. In Eng- 

 land alone the damage it causes has been estimated as not less than 

 $3,850,000 per annum, and in Australia the loss is much greater. It 

 threatens to become a more baneful pest to the American farmer and 

 horticulturist than the grasshopper, caterpillar, and Colorado beetle. 



Recommendations for legislation. 



The following recommelidations are respectfully submitted to the 

 legislative bodies of the various States and Territories : 



(1) The immediate repeal of all existing laws which afford protec- 

 tion to the English Sparrow. 



(2) The enactment of laws legalizing the killiiig of the English 

 Sparrow at all seasons of the year, and the destruction of its nests, 

 eggs, and young. 



(3) The enactment of laws making it a misdemeanor, punishable 

 by fine or imprisonment, or both — (a) to intentionally give food or 

 shelter to the English Spa^rrow, except with a view to its ultimate 

 destruction; (6) to introduce or aid in introducing it into new locali- 

 ties; (c) to interfere with persons, means, or appliances engaged in, 

 or designed for, its destruction or the destruction of its nests, eggs, 

 or young. 



(4) The enactment of laws protecting the Great Northern Shrike 

 or Butcher Bird, the SparroAv Hawk, and the Screech Owl, which 

 species feed largely on the English Sparrow. 



(5) The enactment of laws providing for the appointment of at 

 least one person holding civil office, preferably the game constable, 

 where such officer exists, in each town or village, who shall serve 

 without additional compensation, and whose duty it shall be to destroy 

 or bring about the destruction of English Sparrows in the streets 

 and parks and other jjlaces where the use of fire-arms is not j^er- 

 mitted. In the laTger towns and cities this office might be well im- 

 posed upon the commissioners of public 23arks. 



It is not expedient to offer bounties for the destruction of Sparrows. 

 In fact, at the present time it is desirable, and perfectly feasible, to 

 bring about a great redTiction in their ranks by concerted action of 

 the people, aided by helpful legislation, without drawing upon the 

 I)ublic purse. 



Eecommendations to the people. 



The English Spatrow is a cul-se of feuch virulence that it ought to 

 be systematically attacked and destroyed before it becomes necessary 

 to deplete the public treasury for the purpose, as has been done in 

 other countries. By concerted action, and by taking advantage of 

 its gregarious habits, much good may be accomplished with little or 

 no expenditure of money. 



The Sparrow is a cunning, wary biVd, and soon learns to avoid the 

 means devised by man for its destruction. Hence much sagacity 

 must be displayed in the warfare against it. In the winter-time, if 



