1889. Recent Literature. Ley 
Part II (pp. 197-357) gives 160 pages of previously unpublished evi- 
dence bearing on its distribution, rate of increase, and its injurious rela- 
tions to agriculture, through its destruction of fruit buds, foliage, fruits, 
garden seeds, garden vegetables, and grain,and through its antagonism to 
native birds and its relation to insects. This is followed by 57 pages of 
previously published testimony, about one half of which relates to its 
American history, while about 20 pages are devoted to its record and 
status in Europe (relating mainly to England), and ten to its history and 
status in Australia. 
The evidence presented is overwhelming against the ‘eligibility’ of the 
Sparrowin America. Its injuries to various kinds of fruits and vegetables 
are Classified under appropriate headings, and the evidence presented is 
given in the language of the reports of correspondents, alphabetically 
arranged by States and towns. Of the reports received (owing to their 
number and volume only a part are given), about one to five per cent, in 
respect to injuries to small fruits, vegetables, and grains, are favorable to 
the Sparrow; about three to eight per cent are indecisive; while upward 
of ninety per cent are classified as wholly unfavorable. The evidence 
bearing upon its relation to other birds is hardly more favorable, specific 
statements of its persecution of our native birds being abundant and 
related with convincing detail. Respecting the food of the Sparrow, as de- 
termined by actual dissections of stomachs, the testimony is not encour- 
aging to those who believe in his efficiency as a destroyer of noxious 
insects. Thus of 522 stomachs examined only about one in six contained 
any insect remains, and of these remains two thirds were of beneficial 
insects or of insects of no economic importance, reducing the proportion of 
noxious insect remains, compared with the total contents of the stomach, 
to an almost infinitesimal amount. 
Various suggestions are made for the eradication of the pest, but none 
of them seem to offer much hope of success, in view of its great abun- 
dance, wide distribution, and rapidity of increase, since only general and 
concerted action at all points where it has appeared would give reason- 
able hope of its extirpation ; and this, in the nature of things, is hardly to 
be expected. Much can be done, however, to check the rate of increase 
and more or less energetic and general measures will doubtless soon be 
resorted to on the part of those whose interests are most directly attacked- 
The information given in this admirable report can not fail to arouse 
general interest in the’ subject, and lead to important economic results 
and more intelligent legislative action, the House Sparrow being still a 
‘protected’ bird in two thirds of the States and Territories which have laws 
for the protection of harmless or beneficial birds. In only seven is the 
Sparrow left an outlaw, and in only three is there any aggressive legisla- 
tion against it, Michigan and Ohio offering a bounty for its destruction. 
Mr. Barrows, however, argues at length, and very justly and conclusively 
against the expediency of offering bounties, as such a policy would not 
only prove inefficient but enormously expensive. He urges, howeyer, the 
