■2^/1 Meeting of the American Oriiithologists' Union. [Octoher 



is ample testimony showing that the young are fed pretty uniformlj' 

 upon the larvce of numerous species of insects, and that the adult 

 birds prefer grain and the seeds of indigenous plants. Evidently 

 the services of this bird are not to be overlooked. On the other 

 hand, testimony of a conclusive character points to the retirement 

 of our native insectivorous birds before the liosts of Sparrows, 

 and leads to the inevitable conclusion that the fostering of this 

 bird tends manifestly to the suppression of birds designed by 

 nature to occupy our woodlands, parks, and gardens. Besides 

 this, there is definite and weighty testimony to the efiect that the 

 Sparrows, assembling in large flocks, prove very destructive to 

 fields of grain, instances of which were detailed in the Com- 

 mittee's report. We have, then, also to deal with this bird as a 

 menace to agriculture. 



In considering the question of a remedy against the threatened 

 undue inci^ease of the Sparrows, the Committee was loath to ad- 

 vise their wholesale slaughter, but would recommend, as tentative 

 measures, the removal of all nesting boxes or other means of pro- 

 tection from parks and gardens ; that they should not be fed ; 

 that State laws for their protection should be repealed, and that 

 their transportation for introduction to new localities should be 

 prohibited by legislative enactments, fixing a considerable penalty 

 for such offences. In short, the Sparrows should be subjected 

 to the same struggle for existence as our native birds, which their 

 graminivorous habits, fecundity, and hardy nature too well fit 

 them to maintain. The Committee had taken much pains to 

 secure evidence from those who advocated the cause of the 

 Sparrow, yet the testimony gathered showed that its injurious 

 traits greatly overbalance its beneficial qualities, and that the 

 question as to what we are to do with the Sparrow is really one 

 of great importance, the threatening evil being one of serious 

 magnitude. 



The Committee 'On Avian Anatom}'' being called upon, Dr. 

 Coues (in the absence of the Chairman, Dr. R. W. Shufeldt,) 

 made a brief report of progress, which was accepted and the 

 Committee continued. 



Mr. Brewster, speaking in behalf of the Committee on Oology 

 (in the absence of the Chairman, Capt. Chas. E. Bendire, 

 U. S. A.), stated that no meetings of the Committee had been 

 held, and no report had been prepared. 



