INJUKY TO WHEAT. 71 



Dr. A. K. Fisher wrote from Ann Arbor, Mich., under date of July 



2, 1887 : 



Yesterday while passing a small field (about two acres) of wheat, a flock of about 

 500 English Sparrows flew out. I shot one and found its throat filled with the grain. 

 I walked along by the fence, and, as nearly as I could judge, at least one-half the 

 grain had been removed from the heads. 



The two following reports are examples of testimony as to damage 

 to wheat before it is ripe. Very many more will be found scattered 

 through the evidence further on. 



From 0. S. Plumb, Geneva, Ontario County, N. Y.: 



It does great injury to wheat and oats, shelling the heads from the milk state to 

 harvesting. It also works at the stacks, and persistently at the fields. Farmers in 

 this portion of the State complain to me that the Sparrow is of late becoming very 

 iDJurious to wheat fields. (August 28, 1886.) 



From H. H. Miller and other members of County Farmers' club, Sandy 

 Spring, Montgomery County, Md.: 



From the time the wheat is in the milk until it is thrashed, the Sparrow is in con- 

 stant attendance. In barns, on the outsides of the mow and to a depth of 6 or 8 

 inches, not a head escapes. (February 16, 1887. Present about eight years.) 



While the wheat is in the milk considerable damage is done by 

 breaking down the stalks, in addition to the kernels actually eaten. 

 As the grain ripens, however, far more damage is done by shaking and 

 beating it out of the heads, so that probably much more is scattered 

 on the ground and lost than is actually eaten. 



This is equally true of some other grains, as sho»ni by evidence given 

 a little further on. 



As the grain is cut the Sparrows frequent the stubble and pick up 

 some scattered kernels, but they are far too knowing to waste much time 

 on the ground so long as the shocks of grain are left standing in the field. 

 From the abundant testimony on this score we select a few examples, 

 and some of these show also how the Sparrow follows the grain from 

 shock to stack and from stack to crib, causing loss to the farmer at 

 every step. 



From Prof. B. W. Evermann, Bloomington, Monroe County, Ind.: 



Near my house is a wheat field in which the wheat stood in shocks for several weeks 

 this summer. Hundreds of Sparrows resorted to this field and fed upon the graiD, 

 so that the outside sheaves had but little left. (August 25, 1886. Present about 

 eleven years.) 



From A. B. Ghere, Frankfort, Clinton County, Ind. : 



I have seen hundreds of these birds on and around a single shock of wheat. (Au- 

 gust 27, 1886. Present about eight years.) 



From J. G. Kingsbury, Indianapolis, Ind.: 



They are destroying a great deal of wheat in this viciuity now. They bend the 

 heads to the ground, eat part and waste the rest. After the wheat is cut they cover 

 the shocks and eat all the beads exposed. (Juno 25, 1887. Present eight or ten 

 years.) 



