168 LETTERS TO MR. TEGETMEIER [CHAP. xvi. 



the word if it is not quite needed ; and would it not be well 

 to add a reference to my being an authorised agricultural 

 worker ? It may protect me from some " mendacities/' 

 and, a better reason, show that we are attentive to all three 

 of the points (Ornithology, Entomology, and Agriculture) 

 on which anti-passerine observation rests. 



I like your frontispiece (figs, c and D, kindly lent by 

 Mr. Tegetmeier) very much. It is very pretty as well as 

 very useful. When your book appears I shall like to get 

 some copies to send to some of my own friends, British 

 and extra-British. 



April 15, 1899. 



It was a great pleasure to me to see "The House 

 Sparrow" yesterday, followed this morning by your kind 

 and cordial letter. I like your book exceedingly ; it appears 

 to me to be exactly what is needed. Chapter IV. [Diminish- 

 ing the Sparrow Plague] meets the want which is greatly 

 felt, and your voice being raised against poisoning will do 

 good. I propose to send samples to the Agents-General of 

 South Australia and New Zealand, where the " Avian Rats " 

 are special pests ; also to Mr. McKinnon, for the benefit of 

 the Republic of Uruguay. 



I think one or two would be well placed in the hands 

 of the Department of Agriculture, U.S.A. I suppose that 

 in an obviously much-needed matter like this it is hopeless 

 to expect our Board of Agriculture to do anything. But I 

 have, besides the above, several centres of work which I hope 

 to make use of. 



I do hope that your book will have the success that it 

 deserves, and be of infinite benefit. I like it thoroughly 

 its pretty dress, the good figures and readable type on strong 

 paper ; it is a National gift, in your good and authoritative 

 working up of the subject, and I feel myself honoured to be 

 associated with you in the good work and the pummelling, 

 which I dare say we shall get more of ! 



With my very kind regards and remembrances, believe 

 me, Yours very sincerely, 



ELEANOR A. ORMEROD. 



