3IO FIELD ZOOLOGY. 



other foods (Fig. 108); some do not eat insects at any 

 time ; and there are a few birds in this order which do not 

 accomplish the full amount of good which might be 

 expected of a passerine bird. 



The English sparrow came to the United States in 

 1885, as an unwelcome visitor. He is quarrelsome and 

 often drives away our valuable birds; his wife is a dirty 

 and slatternly housekeeper; and when one of the tribe 

 has his feelings ruffled in the slightest degree, all his kin 

 within telegraphing distance assemble to do him justice. 

 Nevertheless he is not to be seized by the scruff of the 

 neck and thrown out bodily, for lie is learning a little bird 

 sense in his new environment, and is doing some good to 

 crops on his own account. Here is a list, up to present 

 date, of his accomplishments, American accomplish- 

 ments ; and whatever he does, his wife does ; for, although 

 she is possessed of considerable individuality, she follows 

 her husband's lead, as all dutiful wives should. 



Nestlings. Insectivorous to fifty per cent, of their 

 diet; are fed on grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, weevils, 

 cabbage worms, white grubs, cutworms, ants. 



Adults. -Insectivorous to one-tenth of their diet ; eat 

 the same insects as do the nestlings. 



In their relations to winged ants, and the termites, 

 which closely resemble winged ants, the English sparrow, 

 aside from the flickers, the downies and the hairies, is 

 more beneficial than are most other birds. The writer 

 came across a stream of these termites going up the side 

 of a building that was being remodeled. And close on 

 them was a flock of English sparrows picking them off 

 with the utmost haste and diligence. Not a sound was 

 heard from the little birds except the soft whirring of 

 their wings when temporarily disturbed by the passersby. 



