VERMONT BIRD CLUB 19 



A few years ago in a nearby wood where thrushes arc 

 abundant, a Veery selected an unusual site. Nine marsh maples 

 had arranged themselves in a circle about as large as an ordinary 

 bird cage. In this circle, on a foundation of last year's leaves, 

 I discovered the thrush and her nestful of eggs. 



The most remarkable selection for a nesting site in my obser- 

 vation was chosen by a Robin a few years ago. A horse rake 

 was sheltered in an open shedj and when Robin came she pre- 

 empted the seat of the rake and reared her young undiscovered 

 by prowhng cats or other enemies. Robin very obligingly re- 

 nounced her claim to the rake before the farmer was ready for 

 haying. 



HOW TO DESTROY ENGLISH SPARROWS. 



Attention is called to Farmer's Bulletin No. 383, United 

 States Department of Agriculture, entitled, How to Destroy 

 English Sparrows. Among the methods mentioned are destruc- 

 tion of nests, by concerted action of a community, trapping and 

 poisoning. They may be trapped by a shallow box covered on 

 one side by woven wire, placed over grain, lifted up and sup- 

 ported by a stick eighteen inches long in manner of a deadfall. 

 A long cord attached to the upper end of the stick is pulled by 

 the operator in a secluded place when a group of sparrows are 

 eating the grain under the box. The box will fall more readily 

 if a loose chip is placed between the end of the stick and the 

 box. 



Where the use of poison is not prohibited by law, it may be 

 effectively used to reduce the number of sparrows. Of the different 

 poisons tested, the most satisfactory is strychnia sulphate. It is 

 easily prepared and acts quickly. Wheat has proved a good 

 bait as well as an excellent vehicle for administrating the poison. 

 The grain should be regularly supplied at the baiting stations 

 until the birds have become accustomed to resort to the place. 

 A good time to put it out is early in the morning, as the birds 

 are sure to be hungry for breakfast. The capacity of a sparrow's 

 stomach and crop is about 30 kernels of wheat. In deciding the 

 amount of poisoned wheat to put out at one time, it is well to 

 estimate the number of sparrows and to allow about twenty 

 kernels for each sparrow. Although two kernels of wheat coated 

 with the solution have been known to kill a sparrow, six or seven 

 kernels are required to insure fatal results. Only enough poison 

 should be put out as is likely to be eaten in one day, as exposure 



