FOR FROFIT. 153 



ruthlessly destroyed in the egg or otherwise. It may 

 be useful to give the summary of the report by Mr. 

 J. H. Gurney, who, in conjunction with Colonel Russell, 

 examined the contents of nearly seven hundred house 

 Sparrows of various ages : '* It may be said that about 

 75 per cent, of an adult Sparrow's food during its life 

 is corn of some kind. The remaining 25 per cent, 

 may be roughly divided as follows : Seeds of weeds, 

 10 per cent.; green peas, 4 per cent.; beetles, 3 per 

 cent. ; caterpillars, 2 per cent. ; insects which fly, i 

 per cent. ; other things, 5 per cent. In young Sparrows 

 not more than 40 per cent, is corn ; while about 40 

 per cent, consists of caterpillars, and 10 per cent, of 

 small beetles." 



SPARROW TRAPS. We have caught great numbers 

 in the traps of Messrs. Gilbertson & Page ; we find 

 best results (when near towns) if the trap is baited 

 with sopped bread. In the country corn will answer 

 better. 



The Cherry is a very favourite fruit, and Fieldfares, 

 Starlings, Missell Thrushes, Hawfinches, and other less 

 common birds then make their appearance. We have 

 found dive's Scares (imitation tin Hawks) sold by the 

 ironmongers very effective. They are suspended by 

 a string, and if the eyes are punched out they appear 

 to act better ; but like other scares the birds get 

 used to them if they remain in one place. They are 

 most effective when suspended on a string from one 

 tall tree to another, and can be shifted from place to 

 place on the same string. The Cuckoo is a friend 

 who should be thrice welcome ; his attentions to the 

 gooseberry caterpillar are most effective ; he appears to 

 be the only bird to tackle these loathsome sawfly 



