110 METHODS OP ATTRACTING BIRDS 



25,000 per day, until their numbers became 

 greatly reduced. But, alas! we are not allowed 

 to use the grain, and there is no other way. 



" I left Cheyenne six years ago, and I under- 

 stand no one has carried on the work I handled 

 alone for many years, and the sparrows have be- 

 come a nuisance there as elsewhere. But while 

 the English sparrows were killed off, the moun- 

 tain bluebird and the house finch were among the 

 most common bird-box occupants." 



In Worcester, Massachusetts, Dr. Hodge has 

 been able to keep the number of sparrows re- 

 duced during the winter, by using poisoned 

 wheat. 



The following directions are taken from his 

 " Nature Study and Life" : " My own formula is 

 as follows : Dissolve one eighth of an ounce of 

 powdered strychnine sulphate in one half pint 

 of boiling water. Pour this while hot over two 

 quarts of wheat (or cracked corn), stir well, and 

 continue stirring, from time to time, till the liquid 

 is absorbed. Dry thoroughly, without scorching, 

 and put away in some safe receptacle, labeled, 

 * Poisoned Grain, Strychnine.' 



" It requires but one kernel to kill a sparrow. 

 A quart of wheat contains about 23,000 kernels, 

 and the sparrows seldom take more than two or 

 three. Expose the grain where poultry and tame 



