NESTING-HOUSES 75 



enter or leave. In the majority of cases, however, 

 these small openings seem to have been effective 

 in keeping out the sparrow. To what extent, 

 however, wrens may even then become discour- 

 aged through the presence and persecution of 

 the sparrows, it is difficult to say. 



As a means of keeping the English sparrow 

 out of the martin-houses it has been suggested 

 that the entrance be placed underneath. In one 

 case in which this was tried by making holes 

 underneath the jut of an old house, it worked 

 well the first year, being used by the martins, but 

 not by the sparrows ; it was not so successful the 

 second year, and now the sparrows have taken all 

 the holes. However, this plan might be tried else- 

 where, not only with the martins, but also with 

 the bluebird and tree swallow houses as well. It 

 seems very probable that the swallows might be 

 able to use such a house. 



Killing the Sparrows. The devices so far 

 explained have sought to keep out the sparrows 

 without injuring them ; but there is one other plan 

 left, namely, to trap or shoot them. After trying 

 quite a variety of devices personally, and after 

 reading the results of others' experiences, the 

 author is forced somewhat reluctantly to the con- 

 clusion that this is the only successful way to 



