28 



such virulence that it ought to be systematically attacked and 

 destroyed." ^ " 



Von Berlepsch rates it as one of the few birds which must be 

 destroyed at his Ornithological Experiment Station.^ 



Although the sparrow, like most birds that live near man, is 

 beneficial at times, most expert testimony is against it. In 

 view of a multitude of requests for information regarding the 



means for destroying it, a paper on the sub- 

 ject has been issued by the Massachusetts 

 State Department of Agriculture as Circular 

 No. 4. 



Mr. William F. DeMerrit, of Dover, has 

 shown me a box that will be useful where 

 sparrows are very troublesome. The front 

 is a door hinged by two nails driven in on 

 either side near the bottom. It is provided 

 with a hasp and catch such as are used to fasten the doors of book- 

 cases,, and can be opened in a moment and closed as quickly. 

 This is a time-saving device for the use of those who have to 

 inspect many boxes frequently to evict gypsy moths, sparrows 

 or squirrels, but it cannot be used on flicker boxes, as the flicker is 

 likely to unlock and open it with a stroke of the bill (Fig. 30). 



Fia. 30. — Plan for 

 quick opening. 



Remove All Dead Bikds. 



Sometimes disease, extreme heat or severe storms result in 

 the death of many young or even adult birds in the nests. In 

 such cases all dead birds sJiould be removed at once or the living 

 will desert the nesting boxes. At such times these boxes (Fig. 30) 

 will prove a great help, and they are indispensable to any one 

 who has to inspect a large number often. 



' Barrows, W. B.: "The English Sparrow in North America," U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. Ec. 

 Ornith., and Mam. Bull. No. 1. 1889. 



' Hiesmann, Martin: " How to attract and protect wild birds," translated by Emma S. Buch- 

 heim, 1912, p. 92. 



