DESTRUCTIVE BIRDS 497 



measures have to be adopted against them. The so-called "California 

 linnet," which is not a linnet, but a finch (Carpodacus frontalis), a per- 

 sistent destroyer of buds, and the English sparrow, infamous the world 

 over, are probably the most grievous pests, though there are other de- 

 structive birds, including the beautiful California quail, which is pro- 

 tected by law, and yet must be destroyed in some parts of the State or 

 the grape crop must be abandoned. 



For the killing of the smaller birds poison is usually employed, and 

 it is the best administered in water. Poisoned water made of one-eighth 

 ounce of strychnine to three gallons of water and placed in shallow tin 

 pans in the trees, has been widely approved. Cutting oranges in halves, 

 spreading strychnine over the cut surface and empaling the half oranges 

 on twigs high up in the apricot trees, has destroyed hundreds of linnets. 

 Some advocate the use of the shotgun, No. 30 caliber, with a small 

 charge of good powder and No. 10 shot. As many as five hundred 

 linnets have been killed in two days. The advantage of this plan is 

 that one kills linnets and not other birds, while poison kills both friends 

 and foes. 



