38 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 



tbcir appearance, it seems to have been compaiatively easy to keep 

 others away as they came, for the Sparrow is naturally observant and 

 suspicious, and only grows bold and aggressive as its numbers become 

 formidable or its position assured, 



To judge from the reports of our correspondents, poison has not been 

 used very generally, and when used it has not always given satisfac- 

 tory results. Still, undoubtedly it has had some effect in restricting 

 the pest, and oftentimes the apparent failure of an experiment has been 

 due to the imperfect methods of administering the poison. This sub- 

 ject is discussed in another place, and it need only be remarked here 

 that the judicious use of poison in winter, especially in Northern cities, 

 will probably afford one of the simplest solutions of the Sparrow prob- 

 lem. 



The following examples of testimony serve to show tbat Sparrows 

 are kept more or less in check in some places through the efforts of in- 

 di\ iduals. and mainly by the use of the gun. 



From T. D. Barron, Saint Glair, Mich. : 



I have known of almost entire flocks being killed by persistent shooting in the 

 winter, when they are driven to the barn-yards for food. (October 7, 1888.) 



From H. F. Barrell, Hew Providence, K J. : 



I shoot all I see on my premises in the spring ; consequently I have very few. (Au- 

 gust, 1888. 



From A. H. Wood, Painted Post, N. Y.: 



Some are shot, a few poisoned by strychnine, but the increase is principally re- 

 stricted by destroying the nests. (August 10, 1888.) 



From Adolph Leue, Cincinnati, Ohio : 



I have shot a great many, but it seemed to do no good. (October 12, 1886.) 



From Dr. H. D. Moore, K"ew Lexington, Somerset County, Pa.: 

 The shotgun has been our only remedy for them. By shooting a part the remain- 

 der become shy, and sometimes all leave for weeks at a time. (December, 1885.) 



From J. F. C. DuPre, Abbeville C. H., South Carolina : 



On ray own place within twelve months I have killed over five hundred Sparrows 

 by shooting them with shot cartridges from a32-caliber rifle. This makes a small re- 

 port and does not frighten the birds, but it is expensive. (August 30, 1887.) 



From Kev. Henry Fairbanks, Saint Johnsbury, Vt.: 



A few hundred were shot last summer, but only a private bounty has been paid for 

 their destruction. (February 5, 1884.) 



From W. W. Gilman, Stoughton, Dane County, Wis.: 



For two or three years past people have been allowed to shoot them inside the city 

 limits for a period of ten to fourteen days during the brooding season, and this sum- 

 mer they turned the hose on their nests and washed them out. (August 30, 1888.) 



Use of the Sparrow for food. — During the last half dozen years 

 Sparrows have been used as an article of food in many places in this 

 country, as they have been in Europe for centuries, and the demand for 

 them for this purpose has doubtless lessened their numbers somewhat 



