400 “REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
The insect remains found in the various stomachs are submitted 
to Prof. C. V. Riley, Entomologist of the Department, for determi- 
nation and report. A valuable report upon the insect food of the 
English Sparrow has been already received, and has been incorpo- 
rated in the special bulletin on the English Sparrow (Bulletin No. 1 
of the division). 
The inquiry concerning the food habits of the Crow, the various 
Blackbirds or Grackles, and several other species of special economic 
importance, has resulted in the accumulation of so much informa- 
tion that special bulletins on these subjects will be published as soon 
as the material in hand can be properly arranged. Thesame is true 
of a number of species of Gophers and Mice, which have been found 
to exert marked effects upon agriculture or forestry. 
A not unimportant incidental feature of the routine work of the 
division consists in the identification of specimens of birds and mam- 
mals sent to the Department forthis purpose. The number of speci- 
mens thus sent reached several hundred during the past year and is 
constantly increasing. It is hardly necessary to add that great good 
is done by thus diffusing among the people an accurate knowledge 
of the birds and mammals with which they are surrounded. 
Prof. Walter B. Barrows, assistant ornithologist, has been en- 
gaged in office work throughout nearly the entire year. He has been 
charged with the preparation for publication of the enormous mass 
of material in hand relating to the English Sparrow question. As 
stated in my annual report for 1886, circulars and schedules asking 
for information in regard to the English Sparrow were distributed 
by the division in 1885 and 1886. Replies were received from more 
than 3,009 persons. The information contained in these replies has 
been arranged for publication under seven different heads, as fol- 
lows: 
(1) Time and manner of first appearance of the English Sparrow} 
present abundance, and apparent rate of increase; kind and degree 
of assistance and protection afforded or withheld by man. 
(2) Relation of the Sparrow to other birds. 
(3) Injury to trees or vines. 
(4) Injury to fruits and garden vegetables. 
(5) Injury to grain. 
(6) Relation of the Sparrow to injurious or other insects. 
(7) Methods of restriction ; suggestions for extermination ; miscel- 
laneous information. 
The introductory portion of the Sparrow bulletin contains @ 
synopsis of the principal facts brought to light by the investigation, 
together with deductions from the same, and suggestions to legisla- 
tive bodies and to the people in regard to the best methods of abating 
the Sparrow scourge. 
That the special bulletin on the English Sparrow question is one 
of general public interest, as well as Importance, is shown by hun- 
dreds of applications for it that have been received at the Depart- 
ment in advance of its publication. 
The bulletin on Bird Migration in the Mississippi Valley, by W. 
W. Cooke, was ordered to be printed in July, 1887, but has not yet 
been received from the Government Printer. 
In addition to the office corps of the division, two persons have 
been employed as special field agents. Col. Alexander Macbeth, of 
Georgetown, 8. C., has continued to serve the Department in collect- 
ing information relating to the Rice-bird problem, and Mr. Vernon 
