182 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 



while at work with no little attention by all classes of people, receiving 

 one universal expression, in substance, "I wish you'd catch 'em all ; 

 they are a darned nuisance." 



There is no merchantable value on Sparrows here as an article of 

 food, but whatever birds are killed at a match are always taken by 

 some one for this purpose. The flesh of the young* bird is very edible, 

 and in some parts of England they are sold by poulterers for one shill- 

 ing a dozen, and by many are considered a delicacy. 



As far as the application of the Sparrow to sporting purposes is con- 

 cerned, I do not think its admirable adaptability can be overdrawn. 

 The only tangible objection that can be advanced is that its size makes 

 it hard to hit. Sparrow trap-shooting is not a new thing, but has 

 been practiced in England for a great many years, in the era of muz- 

 zle-loading, "scatter" guns. Charles Dickens makes mention of it 

 in one of his works. To-day, with breech-loading, hammerless, close 

 patterned guns, the Sparrow, with its grit and cunning, tenacity of life, 

 and prompt and vigorous flight, affords the sportsman a target involv- 

 ing the highest type of marksmanship, which many are learning to ap- 

 preciate. 



Everywhere I have sent Sparrows (with but one exception, when the 

 birds were grossly neglected, and were in a dying condition when used) 

 they have given the greatest possible satisfaction. While my efforts 

 at introducing them have been attended with considerable expense and 

 labor, still it has demonstrated the fact that they can be caught in 

 sufficient numbers for trap-shooting, and that there will be a growing 

 demand for them, provided they can be obtained under more favorable 

 circumstances, and at less price. In many instances, when obtained 

 from me, the transportation has entered so largely into their ultimate 

 cost that they have been even more expensive than pigeons procured 

 at home, after deducting the amount obtainable for the dead birds. 

 Besides, there has been a slight dissatisfaction as to their price from 

 the fact that the average shooter hasn't even the remotest idea of the 

 manner in which they are caught, and seems to think I have some 

 secret way of scooping them up by the thousand, which I won't divulge, 

 and that in buying of me he is patronizing a monopoly that is virtual^ 

 robbing him. 



I have frequently received letters of inquiry asking (sometimes, per- 

 haps, from idle curiosity) how I catch them, and the same question has 

 been repeatedly asked in the various sporting papers. But it would 

 be impossible for me to convey an adequate idea in detail in a single 

 letter, even if I had time to devote to every one that desired it. I have 

 endeavored to do so, however, but so far as I kuow no one has suc- 

 ceeded. In all probability the system is more extensive than they had 

 supposed, and they have refrained from entering into it without a bet- 

 ter understanding of it. But it is all easily understood and learned- 

 Many of the features and appliances embodied in my arrangements are 



