OPINION OF THE NUTTALL CLUB. 149 



Hitherto by far the worst of these in Eastern Massachusetts has been the canker-worm. 

 The sparrows, under certain conditions, feed freely upon these, both in the imago and 

 larva states, and if numerous enough would doubtless do imich to keep them in check. 

 But to do this, several pairs of sparrows are evidently necessary for the protection of 

 each tree subject to the attacks of the canker-worms. 



In order to have the sparrows effective, they must have their homes in the trees ; 

 hence it will be necessary to provide two or three bird-houses for each individual tree 

 of the millions of elm, apple, and other trees that the canker-worms infest, and to wait 

 for the sparrows to multiply so as to occupy tharn before we can hope for the protec- 

 tion of the trees by the sparrows. 



With the known predilection of sparrows for the buds of fruit-trees and for ripening 

 grain, to say nothing of the other depredations they are known to commit, respecting 

 which we have testimony from the Old World as well as at home, shall we not have 

 burdened ourselves with a tenfold worse pest than the canker-worms prove to be ? 

 But every one who has given attention to the subject knows that we do not need the 

 help of the sparrows for the suppression of the canker-worms. There are various 

 effective devices for the prevention of the descent of the female moth, and for her de- 

 struction before reaching those portions of the tree she seeks for oviposition. What 

 we need is an enlightened public opinion that shall enforce, by statutory enactments, 

 the protection of our fruit and shade trees by already well-known available means, 

 making it a penal offense for any person to neglect the protection of any trees on his 

 premises subject to the attacks of the canker-worms. The sparrows are hence a need- 

 less and deleterious addition to our fauna, which threatens to soon prove a pest it may 

 be no easy task to eradicate. Instead of being pampered and protected, they should 

 be, if not at once expelled, at least left to take their chances in the struggle for ex- 

 .istence without the advantage of the shelter and the food they now find so abundantly 

 provided for them by unwise human foresight. They should not only be placed on 

 the same footing as the native species, but all laws for their protection should be re- 

 pealed, so that every fruit-grower or farmer who finds them detrimental to his inter- 

 est can protect himself by summary means, if he chooses, from their inroads without 

 the risk of a legal prosecution. 



In concluding his remarks, Mr. Allen read, as further contribution to the subject 

 under discussion, a communication from Dr. Charles C. Abbott, of Trenton, N. J., 

 which Dr. Abbott had kindly forwarded to be read before the Nuttall Club. Dr. Abbott 

 wrote : 



"The house sparrows have been very abundant within the city limits of Trenton 

 for about ten years ; and only within the past two years have they wandered there- 

 from, except as single stragglers. Even now they are not permanent residents of the 

 rural districts, but come and go in large flocks, apparently on foraging expeditions. 

 My attention has frequently been called to their depredations committed in town gar- 

 dens ; and I have long known that the fruit and leaf buds of peach, plum, cherry, and 

 pear trees were eagerly devoured by them when such trees were growing in the city. 

 Friends of the sparrow claimed that it arose from a scarcity of food, and were the 

 birds fed with crumbs of bread, and similar scraps thrown from kitchen-doors, the 

 trees would not be molested. This, however, is not true, for even after being gorged 

 with bread and rice they have been seen to pick these buds from the trees and drag 

 them to the ground. 



" I have several times watched flocks or colonies of these birds on my own farm, 

 three miles from the city, and have also noticed some of their habits as a street-fre- 

 quenting bird, and have the following serious charges to make against them : 



"First. They are carnivorous ; eagerly destroying and devouring the eggs and newly- 

 hatched young of other birds. Instances of this I have frequently witnessed. 



"Secondly. They are as cruel as butcher-birds, and will harass, maim, and often kill 

 other birds. As an instance, a pair of sparrows have been seen to attack, while in its 

 nest, a bluebird, and so injure it that it could not escape from or defend itself against 

 subsequent attacks as it fluttered from the nesting-place. 



