VI PREFACE. 



assist in bringing about this much-to-be-regretted condition of 

 things. He must be a fool who can close his eyes to the fact. 

 Wherever we turn, evidence of its baneful influence confronts 

 our vision. We cannot escape it. Can it be said, therefore, 

 that a history of this bane of our avi-fauna, and curse of man, 

 is labor bestowed upon a worthless object, is time sacrificed for 

 nothing? I know it will be affirmed by some, even if it has not 

 been already, that the sparrow is not deserving of the attention 

 bestowed upon it. In reply the writer would say that his only 

 plea for writing its history is that a more general knowledge of 

 its odious practices, which are manifold, shall be brought before 

 the masses, particularly that class of hard-working men, the 

 tillers of the soil, and the growers of vegetables, upon whom the 

 professional man and the brawny mechanic depend for many of 

 the essential articles of life. Further, to awaken attention to 

 the groAving evil, in the confident expectation that it may be in- 

 strumental in the adoption of practicable means for getting rid of 

 the intolerable nuisance. 



With the hope that this little book may accomplish the object 

 for which it is designed, and be instrumental in the production 

 of much invaluable good, the author sends it forth upon its mis- 

 sion of kindness and mercy, with his best wishes for its success. 



THOMAS G. GENTRY. 



GERMANTOWN, Dec. 6, 1877, 

 55 Sharpnack Street. 



