PRESERVATION OF SMALL BIRDS 



could not be kept on coarse flesh. I could mention many 

 other vexatious losses and injuries inflicted by this wily 

 depredator. 



How much property is annually destroyed in London 

 and other large towns by the overflow of rain-water pipes 

 caused by these troublesome pests who so frequently build 

 their nests in the head of the water-pipes on the upper 

 part of the house, it is impossible to say. The first heavy 

 storm that comes overflows the gutters, the houses and 

 furniture being consequently damaged with water. 



To carriage-builders (especially those engaged in 

 railway-carriage building) they are a great source of 

 annoyance. The doors and windows of the large jDainting- 

 sheds are open for the purpose of admitting light and 

 air ; the sparrows enter, fly about among the rafters, etc., 

 and, by their droppings and the filth they bring, destroy 

 the work of the carriage-painter ; the mass of filth, etc., 

 falling upon the wet paint or varnish is most ruinous. 



Hundreds of instances of this kind could be noted to 

 show how very unwise it would be to have a law to pre- 

 vent their destruction even for a single day in the year. 

 There are no hawks or animals in or about London to 

 keep them down, cats are not about during the day, and 

 consequently if their numbers were not to some extent 

 kept in check they would soon become in many places a 

 very serious annoyance and loss. 



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