NESTING-HOUSES 77 



In this connection the question has been raised 

 ■whether shooting would not drive away other 

 birds. But all the records which the author has 

 been able to obtain, together with his own ex- 

 perience, indicate that this fear is entirely ground- 

 less. The native birds seem almost to understand 

 and appreciate the help that is given them in 

 fighting their enemy. Nor do other birds which 

 nest in trees and bushes around the yard, such as 

 chipping sparrows, robins, song sparrows, yellow 

 warblers, etc., seem to be frightened by the 

 shooting. 



Trapping the Sparrows. — In cities, where the 

 sparrows are most troublesome, there is usually 

 an ordinance against the use of firearms, without 

 special permission from the authorities. Another 

 method of killing the sparrows, without the use 

 of firearms, is to trap them. This method, together 

 with the use of poisoned food, can be used to the 

 best advantage, perhaps, in the winter, regarding 

 which more will be said in the chapter on feeding 

 winter birds ; and if the flocks that frequent our 

 yards during the winter are disposed of, there will 

 be so many less to make trouble in the nesting- 

 season. But the author would suggest the follow- 

 ing plan for trapping them in the spring. He 

 has not yet tried it, nor does he know whether 



