INJURY TO BUDS AND BLOSSOMS. 43 



to base such a claim. So far as we are aware, not a single bird shot in 

 the act of bud-eating has been found to contain traces of any insect, 

 while perfectly sound buds and fragments of sound blossoms are found 

 by the score in such birds. 



The Sparrow does eat insects sometimes, but it gets them from other 

 places than from buds and blossoms, which latter it destroys mainly for 

 the material of which they are composed, though at times it seems to 

 destroy them simply for pleasure. 



The well-known fact that many insectivorous birds frequent blossom- 

 ing fruit trees and feast on the insects attracted by the flowers, appears 

 to have led some friends of the Sparrow to believe that this bird has 

 similar habits. Although our own investigations do not bear out this 

 belief, yet in deference to the opinions of those who hold other views, 

 we insert here a few of the strongest and most favorable statements 

 received, and others will be found in full in their proper places with 

 the systematic evidence on this question. 



From Hon. Nicolas Pike, Brooklyn, N. Y. : 



It positively does not injure trees. I know it to be beneficial to the grape-vines, 

 (February 8, 1884.) 



From W. J. Kenyon, Brooklyn, N. Y. : 



It picked tlic buds off my peach trees, but I found that it only picked buds that bad 

 grubs in them. (September 4, 1886.) 



From Dr. H. A. Hagen, Cambridge, Mass. : 



I have never seen it injure trees by picking off buds, but have seen it examining 

 about the buds of cherry and pear trees for little insects ; and then we had a better 

 crop of fruit. (April 13, 1884.) 



From Thomas Chalmers, Holyoke, Mass. : 



It benefits rather than injures the shade, fruit, and ornamental trees. The trees of 

 Holyoke, once so festooned with abominable crawlers, are now a pleasure to look at. 

 (March 6, 1884.) 



From W. H. Bagan, Greencastle, Ind. : 



As yet they do no serious injury to trees and vines; I can not think of an instance. 

 Though many serious charges are made against them, I believe them to be without 

 foundation. (September 28, 1886.) 



From Joseph M. Wade, Boston, Mass. : 



I have known it well for forty-four years, and never knew it to be charged seriously 

 with injuring shade, fruit, or ornamental trees. (January 31, 1884.) 



It is surprising that this bud-eating habit of the Sparrow should be 

 overlooked so generally, when anyone so disposed can see the birds 

 cutting buds daily in the shade trees along the streets of any town or 

 village where Sparrows abound. The habit is not peculiar to a few 

 individuals, nor is it confined to buds and blossoms of any particular 

 tree or shrub, or limited to any one or two months. Sparrows enjoy 

 buds and blossoms at any time, but eat more of them in spring-time, 

 because they are more abundant and tender then, and perhaps in part 

 because other food is somewhat less abundant. 



