258 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



tins eventually M'ill be driven ont if the sparrows are allowed 

 to retain their foothold in the box. Sparrows will destroy 

 the eggs of the martins, as well as their young. To prevent oc- 

 cupation by the sparrows the houses may be put up when the 

 martins first come in the spring and taken down when they 

 leave, or the openings may be kept closed until the first part 

 of May or even later, when most of the sparrows will have 

 already built nests elsewhere. After a box has been occupied 

 by martins one season some of them may return to it very 

 early the next year. Sometimes they make their appearance 

 soon after the middle of April. A watch should be kej^t for 

 them the second year, and the box should be opened when 

 they arrive, as they will need it for shelter should cold 



Fig. 1. 



Fig. 2. 



weather ensue. If the entrances are closed again in the fall 

 as soon as the martins have gone, the sparrows will have little 

 opportunity to occupy the houses. Even in this case, how- 

 ever, it may be necessary sometimes to shoot sparrows in 

 order to keep them away from the martin boxes. A 22-caliber 

 rifle and long shells loaded with smokeless powder and dust 

 shot will be sufficient to kill some of the most troublesome 

 sparrows at a range of ten yards or more when quick action 

 becomes necessary. If the sparrows are so numerous that 

 they drive out the martins it may be necessary to kill them by 

 wholesale in the manner described by Dr. C. E. Hodge in 

 his book " Ts^ature Study and Life." ^ 



Bluebirds and scpiirrels are sometimes troublesome, but 



I riodgo, C. F., "Xfitiire study nnd Life," p 315. 



