TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Lettek of Transmittal 3 



Table of Contents 5 



Prefatory Letter 9 



Introduction 1 1 



Part I. Summaries of Evidence — Recommendations— Special Reports. 



Section First : Summaries of evidence 17-149 



(A) Importation ; spread ; increase ; checks 17-40 



1. Introduction of the Sparrow 17 



2. Method of diffusion of the Sparrow 23 



3. Rate of spread of the Sparrow and extent of area occupied at the 



close of the year 1886 26 



4. Rate of increase of the Sparrow 



v< 



5. Checks on the increase of the Sparrow „ 31 



(a) Natural enemies of the Sparrow 31 



(b~) Relation of climate and food to the increase and spread of 



the Sparrow 32 



(c) Direct influence of man in checking the increase of the 



Sparrow 35 



(1) Public opinion ' 35 



(2) Effect of legislation 36 



(3) Shooting, poisoning, trapping, nest-destroying 36 



(4) Use of the Sparrow for food 38 



(5) How the farmers of Great Britain regard the Sparrow. 39 



(B) Injury to buds, blossoms, and foliage 40-48 



1. Injury by filth 40 



2. Destruction of buds and blossoms 42 



(C) Inj ury to fruits, garden seeds, and vegetables 48-68 



1. Injury to fruits 49 



(•a) Injury to grapes 49 



(b) Injury to other small fruits 56 



(c) Injury to apples, pears, peaches, and other fruits 57 



2. Inj ury to garden vegetables 60 



(a) Green vegetables 61 



(1) Destruction of peas . 61 



(2) Destruction of garden corn 62 



(3) Destruction of lettuce, cabbage, and other vegetables. 63 

 (&) Garden seeds 64 



(1) Destruction of seed of lettuce, cabbage, and turnip .. 65 



(2) Destruction of sunflower seed , 65 



(3) Destruction of weed seed and grass seed 66 



5 



