246 Correspondence. [aIIh 



LApril 



The English Sparrow Problem. 



Editors of 'The Auk': — 



Dear Sirs: — It is now 17 years since the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture issued an urgent appeal to the people to take effective action against 

 the English Sparrow. I wish to find out what has been done and to obtain 

 a fairly complete and unbiased expression of opinion from practically the 

 whole United States and Canada. If the whole country is prepared to 

 act in this matter, it is confidently believed that the species can be exter- 

 minated from the Continent, or from any considerable territory in which 

 the necessary consensus of opinion exists. It is almost useless for one 

 town or city to exterminate the sparrows, for they immediately swarm 

 over from neighboring places; and the great fecundity of the species ren- 

 ders half-way measures a waste of time and effort. Several States have 

 had bounty laws for the English sparrow and one — Michigan — has 

 recently reenacted a bounty law. It seems clear from the enormous rate 

 of increase and from past experience that the work must be undertaken 

 on a higher plane than that of bounty getting, if any permanent progress 

 is to be made. 



Will you please insert the accompanying circular in your next issue, 

 and, if possible, add a word of editorial comment. 

 Very truly yours, 



A. H. Estabrook. 



Circular oj Inquiry with reference to the Present Status of the English 

 Sparrow Problem in America. ■ 



1. Are you familiar with Bulletin No. 1, The English Sparrow in 

 America, published by the Agricultural Department in 1889; and do 

 you agree with the facts there presented and with its conclusions'.' 



2. Is the English Sparrow present in your locality? How numerous? 

 Are they increasing or decreasing in numbers? 



3. What is being done to exterminate them? Please outline methods 

 which you deem effective. 



4. What influence have you observed the English Sparrow to have 

 upon native birds? 



5. Would public opinion in your locality favor the adoption of effec- 

 tive measures to exterminate this species? 



6. Please state the facts and arguments, pro or con, which decide this 

 problem in your own mind. 



Everybody interested is requested to send in replies to the above ques- 

 tions before June 1, if possible, to the undersigned. It is proposed to 

 gather a consensus of opinion from all parts of this Country and Canada. 

 The data will be made public as soon as possible. 



A. H. Estabrook, 

 Clark University, Worcester, Mass. 

 March 5, 1906. 

 (Newspapers please copy.) 



