82 



THE OOLOGIST. 



The English Sparrow Question. 



IITR. Gentry, in his work on tlie Birds 

 of Pennsylvania, says in regard to the 

 question of this bird's value in America : 

 " Its pugnacity detracts much from its gen- 

 eral behavior. It lays claim to a particu- 

 lar place to the exclusion of the rightful 

 proprietors, and prepares to defend it at all 

 hazards. What individual strength fails to 

 accomplish, is brought about by combina- 

 tion, for in union there is power. Many 

 of our most useful birds are objects of its 

 unprovoked vengeance, and unable to cope 

 with prodigious numbers, are forced to for- 

 sake the scenes of past associations and joys 

 for less congenial places. Many of the 

 lawns and groves wliich surround the res- 

 idences of opulence, which once rang with 

 merry songs of the Robin, Blue-bird, and 

 Song Sparrow, now resound with the harsh 

 and inharmonius voices of this species. 



"' The bird deserves our detestation for 

 other reasons than those just enumerated. 

 Our own experience as well as that oF many 

 friends, most conclusively prove its power 

 of destructibility. * It is true that during 

 tlie breeding-season it destroys many cater- 

 pillars for the support of its young, but this 

 good is more than outweighed by the mis- 

 chief which it commits. * " 



5 cents a line ; 35 cents a square. 



I COLLECTORS who co)item2)late ex- 

 cursions for Lirds' Eggs, should not 

 forget that the safest way to carry them 



is lohen placed in our new 



CoTLecttixg ]3oj^. 



We liave recently had a few setts of pieces 

 with concavities cut in them for securely hold- 

 ing eggs in their places. These accompany 

 our larger sized Box at following prices : 

 Box, with sett of three pieces, . . i^l.oO. 

 with two pieces, . . . 1.35. 

 with one piece, . . . 1.10. 

 Box, without concave pieces, . . . .90. 



This Collecting Box is very neatly made, 

 sti'ong, and is provided Avitli fastenings and 

 eyes for a shoulder cord. It is just what 

 tlie field student needs. 



S. L. WiLLARD & Co. 



IF YOU 



^^^C?icLS. M Coles, 



DEALER IN 



I Mounted Birds, Skins, Eggs 



AND 



OOLOGICAL SUPPLIES. 



Send stamp for catalogue. 



Address Chas. E. Coles, 

 Box 710, Marshall, Mich. 



are in want of Drills ibr use the coming 

 season, do not forget tlie fact that we have 



SEVEN SIZES 



of the tinest instruments ever made. 

 Prices as low as the lowest. 



S. L. WiLLARD & Co. 



THE 



Ornithological^Uirector y 



This is a pamphlet giving the names and 

 addresses of the Ornithologists and Oijlo- 

 gists of North America, Avith the most 

 prominent ones of Europe and Canada. 

 For a correspondence list every collector 

 should have it ; as a means of obtaining 

 customers, every dealer in specimens should 

 have it. 



Besides a Directory, the book contains 

 various itemized statistics regarding gener- 

 al ornithology, which every amateur col- 

 lector should become acquainted with. A 

 list of the Birds of Central New York is 



i also given, Avhich may prove of worth in 



! comparing geographical notes. 



, Price, 40 cents per copy. 



I Address S. L. Willard & Co., 



1 Oneida Street, Utica, N. Y. 



