EFFECTS ON THE HOUSE WREN. 87 



From Prof. F. H. King, Eiver Falls, Wis. : 



Mr. H. T. Baker, of Berliu, Wis., lias related to mo that last summer he was a wit- 

 ness of a conflict between some English Sparrows and Purple Martins, in which the 

 Sparrows were trying to get possession of breeding places which had been occupied 

 for several years by the Martins. The Sparrows congregated in a large flock upon a 

 tree standing near the building in the cornice under the eaves of which the Martins 

 had their nests. From this point a number of Sparrows would together attack the 

 Martins and then return to the tree, to be followed by a similar squad. This method 

 of attack was followed until three Martins had been killed, some of them having had 

 their eyes picked out. It need hardly be added that the Martins were forced to 

 leave. The same gentleman tells me that he saw the Sparrows kill, in the same man- 

 ner, a bird, the name of which he did not know, in the city of Milwaukee. (January 

 31, 1887.) 



sparrow versus wrens. 



The House Wren is one of the birds often attacked by Sparrows, and 

 it is claimed that in very many cases it has been driven away by them. 



Most reports which mention " wrens w doubtless refer to this species, 

 so we shall probably not be far from correct if we state that the reports 

 of molestation of this species number one hundred and eighty, while 

 thirty-nine observers report it as more or less successful in resisting the 

 inroads of the Sparrow. It would thus appear to be somewhat more 

 successful than the bluebird, but less so than the martin. 



In many cases protection has been afforded this pugnacious but in- 

 teresting little songster by supplying it with a box the entrance to which 

 is too small to admit the Sparrow; but this does not suffice in all cases. 

 The evidence relating to this species is particularly full and interesting, 

 but we have room here for only a few examples. 



Wallace D. Rhines, of Oonstantia, Oswego County, N. Y., writes : 



I have seen Wrens driven out of their houses and not allowed to enter until I had 

 driven the Sparrows away ; but not being able to help them all the time, they have 

 left their house in possession of the Sparrows. (August 23, 1886. Present four or five 

 years.) 



Edward Burrough, of Merchantville, Camden County, E". J., writes: 



The "Wren makes the most determined resistance, but is generally defeated. (Sep- 

 tember 2, 188C. Present about ten years.) 



J. F. Niesz, of Canton, Stark County, Ohio, writes : 



The Bluebirds were driven away the first year the Sparrows came, and have not 

 returned since. The Sparrows fought the Wrens all last summer in a sugar-tree near 

 my house, but the Wrens hatched a brood there. Then they went into the carriage- 

 house and hatched a second brood there. In the spring they came back to their sugar- 

 tree branch, but the Sparrows tried to drive them away, reaching into the hole and 

 trying to pull them out. We began shooting the Sparrows (only while fighting), 

 and shot twelve, but the Wrens were so harassed that they failed to hatch their 

 brood, and left my farm. I have only observed the Sparrows molesting Bluebirds, 

 Wrens, and Chippies, but I notice a scarcity of other species formerly abundant. 

 (September 6, 1886. Present about three years.) 



P. L. Ong writes from Hennepin, Putnam County, 111. : 



It has not as yet driven away any of the native birds from this locality, but it was 

 seen to throw the young, and to commence to throw the nest of a House Wren out of 



