52 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



summer of 1877 immense flocks of these birds, num- 

 bering from a hundred to five hundred, were observed 

 two miles to the southwest of Chestnut Hill, a suburb 

 of Philadelphia, in the midst of a large field of cradled 

 grain. They were vigorously at work, and, contrary to 

 what is usual, so intently bent upon their task as not to 

 notice the writer and two friends, until we were within 

 a few feet of them. Then, all of a sudden, they rose up, 

 but to re-alight a few seconds afterwards, within fifty 

 yards of their former place. To assert that these flocks 

 would destroy and waste at least twentj'-five bushels, 

 in less than half a day, would not be beyond the range 

 of possibility. Other fields were witnessed during the 

 summer, undergoing similar depredations, on quite as 

 extensive a scale; so that the mischief done during a 

 single season, in a limited area, can hardly be estimated. 



In addition to the above articles, the seeds of some 

 cruciferous and compositaceous plants are also eaten. 

 After the soil has been loosened in early spring, and 

 sown, these birds assemble upon the newly raked ground, 

 and in an incredibly short time gather up the scattered 

 seeds, leaving but few to germinate. Those of the 

 garden lettuce (Lactuca saliva), radish {JRaphanus sa- 

 livas), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), are principally desired. 

 When these plants have matured their seeds, their dried 

 heads and pods are visited. The seeds of the dandelion, 

 and our common thistles, are torn from their receptacles, 

 and devoured at the appropriate seasons. 



During the autumnal months, when the grapes are 

 beginning to mellow, these birds are on hand. In some 

 localities the bunches are so horribly mutilated as to 

 be of no use. They attack the grape in the same 

 manner as they do the cherry. Few of our cultivated 



