Birds of Quebec. 163 
not been prosecuted with the same vigor as have other 
departments of science. The outlook might be brighter. 
The clouds of prejudice hover above, the upas of indifference 
still lingers below blighting and nipping in the bud, blos- 
soms giving promise of fair fruit. In my humble opinion, 
what is wanted is a well equipped National Museum worthy 
of the Dominion, either at Ottawa or in your prosperous, 
ever expanding city, with some of our millionaires to 
breathe into the movement the breath of life by the endow- 
ment of a chair of Zoology. Your magnificent city has 
taught other cities that a race of progressive generous men 
have taken root in the soil, alive to noble duties which the 
stewardship of wealth imposes. Of such may you well 
feel proud, on such may I rest some sanguine hopes.” 
Sir William Dawson, in presenting the thanks of the 
audience to the lecturer, which had been moved by the 
Hon, Senator Murphy, seconded by Mr. J. S. Shearer, 
completely endorsed all that he had said respecting a chair 
of zoology and a national museum, and hoped the day 
would arrive when they would be realized. The remarks 
of Sir William were warmly to the point and as warmly 
received by the audience. 
THE EUROPEAN HouUSsE SPARROW, OR, AS IT IS 
GENERALLY CALLED, THE ENGLISH SPARROW 
(PASSER DOMESTICUS.) 
W. A. Oswatp, Esq., Hill Farm, Belle Riviere, Que. 
My object in presenting this paper and group of cliff 
swallows’ nests to the Natural History Society is to show 
one of the many evils which the English sparrow is doing, 
by driving some of our most beautiful birds from the 
country. 
The sparrow question is becoming a very serious one, 
when it is seen that this bird is increasing to an alarming 
extent throughout the whole country. Up to within the 
last few years it was chiefly confined to large cities, towns, 
