20 



THE ENGLISH SPARROW AS A PEST. 



a neighborhood, in which case it is advisable to move the trap daily 

 from one of them to another, because the birds appear to associate 

 the locality rather than the trap with the distress of their imprisoned 

 comrades. Canary seed, hemp seed, wheat, oats, and bread crumbs 

 are excellent baits. The bait should be scattered in the antechamber 

 and first funnel and also, sparingly, outside about the entrance. A 

 live sparrow kept in the trap as a decoy will facilitate a catch. In 

 case native birds enter a trap they may be released without harm. 

 Trapping may begin at any time after young sparrows are able to 

 take care of themselves, which is usually by July 1. Each day's 

 catch should be removed from the trap at nightfall, and if a decoy 

 is used it should be comfortably housed and otherwise cared for 

 when off duty. 



. 2f 



.1 



FIG. 15. Diagram for cutting out the parts of a funnel trap 86X18X12 inches. 



In removing sparrows from either a funnel or a sieve trap the 

 receiving box shown in figure 17 will be found useful. It should be 

 about 6 inches square and 18 inches long, inside measurement. The 

 door, hinged at the bottom and turning inward, is controlled by the 

 part of its wire frame extending through the side of the box to form 

 a handle. The box as it appears in the figure is ready to be placed 

 before the open door of a trap from which birds are to be driven. 



POISONING. 



Where the use of poison is not prohibited by law it may be em- 

 ployed effectively to reduce the number of sparrows. Of the dif- 

 ferent poisons tested the most satisfactory is strychnine, which is 



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