46 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 



Prof. O. T. Mason, of Washington, D. C, writes: 



Previously to 1882 I lived in what is now called University Park, where 1 had a great 

 mau} 7 fruit trees, including pears. I have sat in my study window many times and 

 watched the English Sparrows picking at the pear-tree buds just when they began to 

 swell. 



It was not until I had lost one or two crops that I gave close scrutiny to their ac- 

 tions and found that they were picking out the flower portion of the buds and eating 

 them. After that I gave orders to allow no Sparrows in the garden, and had no 

 trouble in securing a crop of pears. (February 9, 1866.) 



Sereno Edwards Todd, of Orange, Essex County, N. J., writes ; 



It often ruins the pear crop by eating all the buds in cold weather. (September G, 



188G.) 



W. E. Saunders, of London, Ontario, Canada, writes : 



One year — 1832, I think — it stripped a Flemish Beauty pear tree of blossoms so that 

 we had no fruit from it. (December, 1885.) 



Dr. B. H.Warren, State Ornithologist of Pennsylvania, West Chester, 

 Chester County. Pa., writes : 



It devours the fruit buds of pear, peach, and plum trees, aud also grape-vine buds. 



The buds and blossoms (especially buds) of the numerous varieties of pear are de- 

 voured and otherwise destroyed to a very considerable extent in this section. (Jan- 

 uary, 1887.) 



William F. Doertenbach, of Cleveland, Ohio, writes: 



This spring (1886) the Sparrows picked the blossoms off a plum tree in my yard. I 

 cut a branch full of blossoms and examined them closely and there were no insects in 

 the blossoms. (November 8, 1886. Present about thirteen years.) 



Dr. C. P. Blachly, of Manhattan, Kans., writes : 



"When the first three or four pairs of English Sparrows came here I observed one of 

 the birds very busy on the branch of a plum bush. After about a minute's time t 

 examined the branch and found all but two or three buds had been nipped off, there 

 being upwards of fifty buds gone, and apparently just nipped off. (November, 1885.) 



Elisha Slade, of Somerset, Bristol County, Mass., writes : 



In spring it injures the swelling buds and young leaves of the apple, pear, peach, 

 plum, cherry, and quince trees, and currant and gooseberry bushes. Sometimes the 

 injury is slight, but often serious. (October 19, 1885.) 



This injury is very noticeable on quinces and dwarf pears, currants, raspberry vines, 

 and small trees. (August 20, 1885. Present about twelve years.) 



Henry Stewart, of Hackensack, N. J., writes: 



Early last spring it picked open many apple buds to that the ground under the 

 trees was covered with them. (February 5, 1884. Present about fourteen years.) 



Prof. B. W. Evenuann writes from Bloornington 5 Monroe County, 

 Ind.: 



I have often noticed them eating, or biting off, the blossoms of apple trees. (Au- 

 gust 25, 1886. Present about eleven years. ) 



W. V. Osterhout writes from Providence, R. I. : 



I have seen it destroying the buds of the elm (our principal shade tree) and of grape- 

 vines; it also destroys cherry, pear, and peach blossoms. A friend of mine was for 

 two years unable to obtain enough fruit from his two cherry trees to warrant rucking, 

 although the trees were healthy and in good bearing, all on account of the destruc- 

 tion of buds, flowers, and fruit by the Sparrow. (May 8, 1887.) 



