SPARROWS AND MARTINS AT SAINT LOUIS. 193 



said, and from my own observation I can not even corroborate the state- 

 ments already published. It is a strange coincidence that with the in- 

 crease of the Sparrows our peaches became more and more scarce, but 

 I am not prepared to say that Passer ate them before they were born — 

 that is, in the bud. 



I can say that the martin, the bluebird, and the wren find it hard to 

 withstand the intruder, but I hope they will learn from him, and 

 thereby become more efficient in their resistance. I dare to say that 

 the martin has already learned much within the few years of coutact 

 and contest. The martins have become more careful in the guarding 

 of their chosen home, and I might add they have become more coura- 

 geous in defending this home. 



Immediately on arriving in early spring the martin seeks a box — his 

 old box oflast year, if possible. A few days afterwards his mate joins 

 him, and the pair regard the chosen box as their home long before they 

 begin nest-building. During this time, in the full enjoyment of their 

 honeymoon, the pair used to leave home together when going out in 

 search of food. Of late they have begun to take turns, one staying at 

 home to keep the Sparrows out. This is an important strategical prog- 

 ress, because it is comparatively easy to keep the Sparrow out of a 

 box, but it is impossible for a martin to dislodge him after he has built 

 a nest. 



Besides being much more intelligent and courageous than the birds 

 with which it comes in conflict, the House Sparrow has several really 

 good qualities which are worthy of imitation by our native birds. Its 

 diligence is marvelous. After removing their nest in the evening, one 

 is surprised to see the heap of material whieh this single pair has car- 

 ried in within a few hours the following morning ; and this is done day 

 after day with wonderful perseverance. 



But the most prominent trait of its character, and the one which ex- 

 plains in a great measure the immense multiplication of the species, is 

 the unsurpassed attachment of the parent Sparrows for their offspiring. 

 A Sparrow never deserts its brood. If one of the parents is killed, the 

 other will do all the work alone. If a young one happens to fall down 

 from the lofty nest, it is not lost ; the parents feed it, shelter, and de- 

 fend it. If a young Sparrow is taken from the nest and placed in a 

 cage, the mother feeds it for days and weeks, even if she has to enter 

 a room to get to it. Many young martins tumble out of their nests, 

 and are invariably lost. The parents make much noise about it, and 

 try to make the young fly up, but finding that they can not do it, they 

 let them perish, and even if placed where they could easily get to them, 

 they do not feed them. In times of drought many young martins starve 

 to death, being sometimes entirely deserted by the parents. 



While from the four to six eggs which the martin lays, on an average 

 only two young are successfully reared, the Sparrow succeeds in bring, 

 ing up all the young hatched, which are four or five, 

 8401— Bull. 1 — -13 



