marked. Mr. Robert Ridgway, the eminent ornithologist of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, has this to say of the sparrow in 

 southern Illinois : — • 



The amazing increase of the so-called English sparrow has profoundly 

 disturbed the "balance" of bird life. Although introduced less than 

 fort}' years ago this species is now, without question, by far the most 

 numerous bird in the region of which I write, even if it does not exceed 

 in numbers all the native small passerine birds combined, not onlj'- in 

 the towns but on the farms as well. The effect on native birds is ex- 

 ceedingly well marked, for the foreign pest has literally crowded out, 

 or by its aggre.?sive meddlesomeness driven away, from the abodes of 

 man those charming and useful native birds, the bluebird, purple martin, 

 barn swallow and cliff swallow. None of the native species likes its com- 

 pany, and, in winter, when one wishes to feed the cardinals, Juncos and 

 other native birds, it is necessary to feed manjr times as many of those 

 pernicious pests, thus vastly increasing both the trouble and the expense. 



He gives details regarding the following species: — 



Cliff Swallow {Petrochelidon lunifrons) . — Formerly abundant, large 

 colonies attaching their retort-shaped nests underneath overhanging 

 eaves of barns, warehouses and other large buildings, but apparently has 

 wholh' disappeared. 



Barn Swallow {Hirundo erythrogastra) .— Almost totally expelled by 

 the sparrow, great numbers of which have appropriated every nesting 

 site in the barns and other outbuildings. 



Purple Martin (Progne subis). — Mostly driven from towns and farms 

 by the sparrow, the large trees containing cavities that are left being too 

 few in number to accommodate more than a small percentage of the 

 number that formerly occurred. 



Bluebird (Sialia sialis). — This also has been mainly displaced by the 

 sparrow, which has appropriated nearly all cavities suitable for nesting 

 places. 



After due consideration the question, is the sparrow a pest, 

 may be answered as follows: Yes; but in the cities, and under 

 exceptional circumstances in the country, it may be more 

 benejQcial than harmful. 



Means of drivixg out Sparrows. 

 For the benefit of those who wish to control sparrows about 

 their own homes some of the more common devices for ousting 

 these birds are given below, some of which have been published 

 in the excellent bulletins of the Biological Survey. 



