INSECT-EATING HABITS. 101 



thereto the results of his study of published data of other dissections and 

 of his own large experience with the Sparrow. 



This valuable report of Professor Kiley covers the ground so thor- 

 oughly, that there is no excuse for our entering into any extended dis- 

 cussion of the facts brought out by these dissections, and we shall merely 

 touch on one or two points to give emphasis to some of our remarks 

 later. 



EVIDENCE DERIVED FROM OBSERVATION OF THE BIRD. 



That part of the testimony which is based mainly on observation, 

 with only an occasional dissection, is much less positive as a whole than 

 that based solely on dissection j but some parts of it are extremely val- 

 uable nevertheless. 



In reply to the schedule questions sent out, and by subsequent cor- 

 respondence with all persons willing to contribute information, reports 

 were received from five hundred and ninety-one persons. The contents 

 of these reports may be roughly classified as follows : 



Mainly favorable to the Sparrow 267 



Mainly unfavorable to the Sparrow 138 



About equally divided 60 



Indefinite, or of no practical value ! 126 



Total 591 



Of the one hundred and twenty-six reports counted of no practical, 

 value, seventy-eight consist simply of the statement that the Sparrow 

 eats insects only when forced to do so by the absence of other food. 



As a majority of all observers were naturally unable to discriminate 

 between injurious and beneficial insects, all reports which credit the 

 Sparrow with eating insects of any Mnd have been considered (in this 

 summary) favorable to the Sparrow, though, in view of Professor Biley's 

 examination of insects actually eaten, this is far from being really the 

 case. 



The following table shows the insects which the Sparrow is said to 

 eat and the number of observers reporting each insect. With the ex- 

 ception of single reports on six or seven species, it does not record re- 

 sults of dissection, but merely the observations of those who report 

 having seen the Sparrow taking insects for itself or young. In this 

 list there are no repetitions, that is, the same insect is not entered in 

 two separate categories. For example " worms," fifty-six reports, does 

 not include cut-worms, canker-worms, earth-worms, etc., which are re- 

 corded just as reported. 



