8o Wild Bird Guests 



A thorough investigation of the subject by 

 the Department of Agriculture shows that while 

 European Sparrows do a certain amount of good 

 by the destruction of insects in summer and of 

 weed seeds in the fall and winter, they do such a 

 vast amount of damage that there is compara- 

 tively little to be said in their favor. 



The European starling threatens to create 

 another problem for the American bird lover. 

 Less than twenty years ago the range of the 

 starling in this country did not extend beyond the 

 boundaries of New York City. Now the bird 

 has overrun or rather overflown all the surround- 

 ing states, and may be seen in large flocks at all 

 seasons. Its economic status has not been fully 

 determined yet, but from what I can learn it 

 seems to be a more useful bird than the European 

 sparrow. It is certainly more pleasing to look 

 at, it has a more pleasant voice and it is com- 

 paratively clean and dainty in its habits. Being 

 partial to nest boxes, no doubt it would crowd 

 out our native birds were it not for the fact that 

 many of them, having smaller bodies, can use 

 entrance holes through which the foreign bird 

 cannot pass. So let us cheer up; the worst is 

 already here. 



