384 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



some of our best observers as to the destructive nature of this bird. For 

 instance, from Mr. J. H. Gurney's report on the monthly food of the 

 Sparrow, and which details the contents of the stomachs of six hundred and 

 ninety-four birds, conviction is surely obtained. As Mr. Gurney remarks, 

 " It may be said that about 75 per cent, of an adult Sparrow's food during 

 its life is corn of some kind." In their summary the authors draw up this 

 further indictment : — 



" In the present space it is impossible to enter fully on this important 

 national matter, but still we find, in addition to what all concerned know 

 too well already of the direct and obvious losses from Sparrow marauding, 

 that there is evidence of the injurious extent to which they drive off other 

 birds, as the Swallows and Martins, which are much more helpful on account 

 of their being wholly insectivorous ; also that, so far from the Sparrow's 

 food being wholly of insects at any time of the year, even in the young 

 Sparrows only half has been found to be composed of insects ; and of the 

 food of the adults, it was found from examination that in a large proportion 

 of instances no insects at all were present, and of these many were of kinds 

 that are helpful to us or harmless. Also it is well on record that there are 

 many kinds of birds which help us greatly by devouring insects, and that 

 where Sparrows have been systematically destroyed for a long course 

 of years all have fared better for their absence ; and also attention should 

 be drawn to the enormous powers of increase of this bird, which under not 

 only protection, but to some extent absolute fostering, raises its numbers so 

 disproportionately as to destroy the natural balance." 



M. Cabalzar, a French aeronaut, made a balloon ascent at Annecy on 

 the occasion of the dedication of a monument to Carnot, says a despatch to 

 the 'Petit Journal.' The town is separated by, a lake from a mountain 

 1800 metres in height, which is the home of many Eagles. While the 

 balloon was descending an enormous Eagle swooped down on it and lit on 

 the edge of the balloon near where the ropes that supported the car were 

 attached. The Eagle's weight made the bag sway violently, and M. Cabal- 

 zar feared an accident. The Eagle hung on, staring at the aeronaut, until 

 the balloon was within 200 yards of the earth, when the shouts of the 

 peasants drove him away.— (' Westminster Gazette.') 



We learn from the ' Wombat,' published at Geelong, Victoria, Aus- 

 tralia, that " the bonus offered by the Government for the destruction 

 of Cormorants has been discontinued, owing to the amount voted last year 

 for this purpose having been exhausted." On the other hand, it was 

 intended to issue a proclamation on March 24th, to change the close season 



