308 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



they were masters of the situation, and never were two birds more- 

 delighted. From his perch aloft, the male poured forth torrents of 

 scorn and ridicule, while the female inside the box fairly danced 

 with delight, and I almost fancied was making faces at their enemy,, 

 as he struggled ineffectually to gain admission, or sullenly, but fruit- 

 lessly, tried to widen the aperture. 



Shortly after this dispute was settled, I noticed ten or twelve 

 sparrows quietly at work at the grape vines, and feeling pleased at 

 the havoc they were apparently making among the insects, passed 

 on, speculating mentally on the probable increase of fruit I should 

 have. In the afternoon they had moved to another trellis, and I 

 thought, "Well, they are doing the work systematically, and no- 

 doubt effectually." But shortly afterwards, while passing the trellis 

 where they commenced, I observed a slight debris of greenery along 

 under the vines. This led to an examination which showed, to my 

 intense mortification, that the heart had been eaten out of every 

 fruit bud where the birds had been, and nothing left but the outside 

 leaves. The report of firearms was heard several times in the garden 

 that afternoon ; many dead and wounded sparrows were left to the 

 care of the cats, and every crevice where the birds were known to. 

 breed was at once closed up. 



Since then the wrens have kept possession of their box,, and with 

 a little attention I can keep the sparrows out of the garden, for they 

 find plenty of provender round the stables ; but they are still on the 

 increase, and if this continues in the future, as in the past, the time 

 is not far distant when the streets and stable-yards will not furnish 

 food enough for the increased numbers, and there is no doubt that 

 then they will betake themselves to the fields and gardens and take 

 whatever suits them. This is the serious view of the subject which 

 has called for legislation in other countries, and may do so here 

 unless some unexpected check arises to prevent the necessity for it. 



In the meantime it is well that all parties who have the oppor- 

 tunity should take notes of the movements and increase of the birds 

 for future consideration. 



Since the above was written, more accounts have been published 

 about this Sparrow than there ever have been- about any American 

 bird. Articles without number have appeared in the different maga- 

 zines, pointing out the folly of our having imported a bird whose 

 character as a plague and a pest was established in the countries 

 whence he was brought. Sparrow Clubs have been organized for their 

 extinction, bounties have been offered and paid in different States 



