82 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



culars. The papers on the rat and on the cat are the first bul- 

 letins on such enemies published by the Board. The intention 

 is to continue the series. 



A Warning to Sparrow Trappers. 

 All who attempt to destroy English sparrows should be warned 

 against the danger of killing native birds by mistake. Many 

 native sparrows resemble the English sparrow in a general way, 

 and are mistaken for it by many people. If servants are 

 allowed to shoot sparrows or to attend to sparrow traps many 

 native sparrows are likely to be killed. Song sparrows, white- 

 throated sparrows and juncos enter traps much more readily 

 than does the English sparrow. Song sparrows in particular 

 when caught in traps are likely to batter themselves badly in 

 their efforts to escape. All traps should be examined at least 

 twice a ,day, and great care should be taken to avoid destroy- 

 ing native birds. All makers of sparrow traps should send a 

 warning notice with each trap. The destruction of native 

 birds is punishable by a fine of $10 for each bird. 



Bird Houses and Nesting Places. 

 Experiments carried out for the past five years have cul- 

 minated in the preparation and printing of an illustrated cir- 

 cular of 24 pages on "Bird Houses and Nesting Boxes," which 

 is intended to take the place of Nature Leaflet 15, on the same 

 subject. This circular was written not only to show that in- 

 expensive nesting boxes will attract birds, but also to give 

 dimensions and designs and to show how to get the birds. 

 Those who desire to obtain these papers should apply to the 

 secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, 136 State House, 

 Boston. Some details and results of the nesting studies of the 

 past year may be set down here. 



Causes of Failure to attract Birds to Nesting Boxes. 

 During the past year, perhaps, more nesting boxes have been 

 put up for birds in Massachusetts than ever before in the his- 

 tory of the Commonwealth, but there still remain great areas 

 where not one has been erected, and many of those placed 



