164 



tinued and clear warble like that of a glorified Warbling Vireo, but more 

 rapidly delivered. The young male in the autumn sings almost as well 

 as the adult. 



Economic Status. The Purple Finch eats largely of buds and fruit. 

 The fruit eaten in eastern Canada is trifling, as the species is not numerous 

 in summer-time in fruit-growing sections. The bird .retires from the 

 southern borders to less cultivated sections in the breeding season. The 

 fruits it takes are mostly waste winter left-overs and wild forms as it is 

 specially fond of Mountain Ash or Rowan berries. The charge that it 

 eats buds is more serious, but so far has been based upon general asser- 

 tions not substantiated in the east by results of stomach examinations. 

 It is possible that at times the Purple Finch can do considerable local 

 harm picking off the fruit buds of the coming year. That it does so to 

 an extent to cause uneasiness to the fruit grower has yet to be proved. 



House Sparrow. ENGLISH SPARROW. FR. LB MOHSTEAU DOMESTIQUE. Passer 

 domesticus. L, 6-50. Plate XXIX B. 



Distinctions. Black bib of the male is distinctive. Females have a slight olive sugges- 

 tion and might be confused with the female Purple Finch were it not that they are unstreaked 

 below. The female or autumn plumages of the Bobolink are somewhat suggestive of this 

 plumage, but the pronounced streakiness above and the general yellowness are quite 

 distinctive of the Bobolink. With a little observation of the species in our streets or 

 barnyards, no one need ever confuse this species with anything else. 



Field Marks. The characteristic notes and chirrups of the House Sparrow make the 

 best recognition mark in the field. 



Distribution. Originally distributed over all of Europe and most of Asia. Now found 

 through North America to the limits of settlement. 



This bird is not native to America, but is one of our most undesirable 

 importations from Europe. In spite of its obvious seed-eating habits 

 and structure, it was originally introduced as a caterpillar destroyer. 

 It does, of course, like nearly all birds, sometimes eat caterpillars, but 

 does not approximate in this direction the capacity of the birds it has 

 displaced. Being a bird of cities and barnyards most of its activities 

 are in localities where there is plenty of food of non-insectivorous 

 character, garbage, waste grain, etc. In the autumn, it makes excur- 

 sions into the country and visits fields in large flocks, mostly after harvest 

 when waste grain is abundant, but occasionally before, and then causes 

 considerable loss. Its food habits thus are harmful or not according to 

 circumstances and perhaps the balance on the whole lies well in its 

 favour. The principal other objections to the House Sparrow are three 

 in number. It drives more useful species away, it is very dirty about 

 buildings, and it is suspected of spreading poultry diseases. 



The House Sparrows drive other birds away by three methods : monopo- 

 lizing the food supply; occupying their nesting places; and by pugna- 

 cious and bulldozing habits. During the nesting season while the young 

 are being fed they come into direct competition with other species depending 

 for the support of their young on the saine insect forms (the young of 

 all Passerine birds require insects, though those of this species are not 

 long dependent upon them). Thus far perhaps they may be nearly as 

 useful as the forms they displace, but most of the displaced birds are 

 continuous insect hunters and the House Sparrow only a seasonal one. 

 After nesting duties are over they again turn their attention to waste mate- 

 rial and become of smaller importance, whereas the superseded birds 



