The sparrow trap in the illustration has proven very 

 effective when placed in chicken yards. The birds go through 

 cone-shaped entrance holes in the lowest point of the top, 

 attracted by a generous supply of small mixed grains scat- 

 tered on the i^oor of the trap. Unable to escape, they find 

 their way to a smaller chamber, from which they are readily 

 removed by hand. Native birds accidentally caught are 

 easily released. Best results are obtained by keeping living 

 sparrows in the trap as decoys. Food and water being sup- 

 plied, the captive sparrows suffer no hardship. 



Poisoned grain, having so many elements of danger, will 

 not be discussed here, the reader being referred to Farmers' 

 Bulletin 493, "The English Sparrow as a Pest," copies of 

 which can be secured by writing to the Department of Agri- 

 culture at Washington. 



Shooting accomplishes great results when done as fol- 

 lows: Feed small grains from a long narrow trough on the 

 ground for several days until hundreds of sparrows from the 

 surrounding neighborhood flock to it the moment the food is 

 put out. A shotgun so placed to sweep the length of the 

 trough will kill dozens at each shot. The gun can easily be 

 secured in place and the trigger released by a long string. 



To those who naturally object to recommend the abo\c 

 methods to j^oung people, will find that English sparrows 

 may be kept in check by the simple expedient of removiny 

 the eggs, ft is better to wait until the full clutch of five is 

 laid before destroying them. It is said that persistent robbing 

 of their nests will discourage nesting pairs so that they will 

 desert the neighborhood. 



There is no doubt but were a community desirous of 

 cleaning out the pest, but that it could be done at little cost. 



Nothing discourages beginners as quickly as this continu- 

 ous war against English sparrows, but it were better to put 

 up no bird houses than to permit them to help increase this 

 pest. 



The Cat Problem. 



Not until one has turned his attention to the problems 

 confronting the conservationist does he realize the ha\oc 

 wrought by homeless cats. This does not, however, absohc 

 the pet cat, whose case will be considered separately. 



31 



