152 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA, 



Circumstances, however, must govern largely the appointment and 

 compensation of such officers, and it is evident that in many places 

 where Sparrows are very abundant they should be able to give their 

 entire time to them, especially at first, and in such cases should be em- 

 ployed at a fixed salary, contingent, however, on the killing of a certain 

 number of Sparrows per week or month, with perhaps a bonus for every 

 additional hundred or thousand killed during a specified time. 



As the Sparrows in a district decreased, the number required from 

 anyone man could be reduced, and the number of men employed might 

 be lessened also, until finally the regular game constable, or other officer, 

 would be able in addition to his other duties to keep down the Spar- 

 rows. 



Aside from the numerical strength of the Sparrow, the principal ob- 

 stacle to its extermination is to be looked for in the opposition of a small 

 number of persons in each town who see no present necessity for de- 

 stroying the Sparrows in their neighborhood, and can not appreciate the 

 importance of simultaneous action over all the country. 



It is hoped that the contents of the present volume will do much to 

 lessen the number of people who take such a stand ; and it is believed 

 that many who now cherish the Sparrows would be perfectly willing to 

 have them exterminated if they could be sure that any native birds 

 would take their places. Except in absolutely treeless cities there is 

 not the slightest doubt that this replacement by native birds can be 

 effected if reasonable efforts are made ; and it is most urgently recom- 

 mended that, simultaneously with the efforts to exterminate the Sparrow, 

 every possible care be taken to protect and foster our native birds, and 

 induce them to return to our towns and cities and make their homes in 

 our parks, shade trees, and gardens. 



Wrens, bluebirds, swallows, and martins may be assisted very mate. 

 rially by closing up the openings of their boxes as soon as they leave 

 them in the fall 3 re opening them only on their return in the spring. 

 In this way the Sparrow will be unable to appropriate the boxes during 

 their absence, and if all other breeding places in the vicinity are secured 

 against them very few will linger to dispute the boxes with the native 

 birds when they come. 



Boxes intended for the wren may be left open through the winter pro- 

 vided the entrance be made too small to admit a Sparrow. 



In shooting Sparrows about parks or gardens at times when other 

 birds are present, care should be taken not to alarm the latter, and this 

 can be effected by using such weapons as are made especially for the 

 use of bird collectors, since they make very little noise, and the small 

 amount of powder and fine shot used prevents damage to buildings or 

 trees. Moreover, such a weapon, while just as effective, is far more 

 economical than a larger gun. 



In winter it may be difficult to keep many native birds in our north- 

 ern cities, yet there are species of woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches^ 



