VOl i907" IV ] Estabrook, The English Sparrow Problem. 133 



Public opinion, in many localities, would favor extermination, 

 but in many places, so-called humanitarians were, and are, still 

 bitterly opposed to sparrow destruction, as in Boston in 1889. 

 But the greater portion of the letters report communities to be 

 entirely indifferent, and difficult to arouse to any definite action. 

 As is always the case, a pest must become overwhelming, before 

 the general public will pay the slightest heed. 



6. State facts and arguments, pro and con, which decide this 

 problem in your own mind. 



Two letters used the argument that it was cruel to kill any living 

 thing, no matter how good the reason, basing it on the point that 

 the other animals had as much right to live as we had. It was also 

 wrong to teach boys to kill things as it made them cruel. The 

 great majority of writers were thinking of the great danger to our 

 native birds, and this was a sufficient cause to demand extermina- 

 tion. 



In Canada the consensus of opinion is the same as in the United 

 States. But there the winters are more severe and so the bird does 

 not attain to so great numbers but shows there, as here, the 

 same fighting qualities that have made him most inimical to our 

 native species. 



There are several methods of extermination feasible; destroying 

 nests and young, shooting, and by poisoning. The poisoned grain 

 is prepared by dissolving one grain of strychnine sulphate in one 

 half pint of boiling water. Pour this while hot over two quarts 

 of cracked corn or wheat, stirring well until all the liquid is absorbed. 

 Dry thoroughly, without scorching, and put away labelled. One 

 kernel of this prepared grain will kill a sparrow. Great care must 

 be used with this, and it should be used only when our other graniv- 

 orous birds are away. 



The English Sparrow, or House Sparrow as it is sometimes 

 called, has been a pest in every country in which it has been intro- 

 duced. At present in New Zealand the people are obliged to 

 take the most drastic measures to exterminate them. They had 

 become so extremely numerous that concerted action became 

 necessary and was demanded by the people, who are now slowly 

 exterminating them. A special officer was appointed in each 

 county, whose sole duty it was to carry on this work. The ex- 



