EVIDENCE 



SECTION FIBST.-OEIGINAL TESTIMONY IN DETAIL. 



Little need be added here to what has been said already in the 

 introduction to the Bulletin. The majority of the evidence printed here 

 was received in reply to printed questions contained in a circular and 

 schedule distributed in the latter half of 188G. These questions were 

 as follows : 



The Department of Agriculture desires facts, from personal observation, in answer 

 to the following questions concerning the European House Sparrow, commonly called 

 "English Sparrow," in this country. 



I. Is your locality city, suburb, or country ? 



II. Is the English Sparrow present in your vicinity ? If not, what is the nearest 

 point at which you know it to occur ? If present, when did it first appear ? 



III. Is it abundant and on the increase? 



IV. Is it protected by law ? 



V. Is it artificially housed and fed ? 



VI. How many broods and young does a single pair rear in a season ? 



VII. Do any of our non-predatory birds habitually resist encroachments of, or at- 

 tempt to drive off, the English Sparrow unless themselves first attacked ? If so, what 

 kinds and with what success ? 



VIII. Which of our native birds attempt to reclaim former nesting sites when these 

 are occupied by the Sparrows ? Give examples. 



IX. Has the English Sparrow been observed to molest or drive off any of our native 

 birds ? If so, what species are so molested or expelled from their former haunts? 



X. Does it injure shade, fruit, or ornamental trees or vines? If so, give exam- 

 ples. 



XL Does it iujure garden fruits and vegetables? If so, give examples. 



XII. Does it injure grain crops ? If so, give examples. 



XIII. Has any case in which it has been of marked benefit to the farmer or horti- 

 culturist come under your notice? If so, in what way has the benefit been de- 

 rived ? 



XIV. Under what circumstances does it feed upon insects ? What kinds of inju- 

 rious or beneficial insects or their larva? does it destroy and to what extent? 



XV. What means, if any, have been taken to restrict the increase of the English 

 Sparrow ? 



XVI. What is the prevailing public sentiment in respect to the bird ? 

 Information is particularly desired concerning the presence of the English Spar- 

 row in the Southern States and in the region west of the Mississippi. 



A circular issued by the Department of Agriculture in July, 1S85, 

 contained three or four questions on the English Sparrow, but these are 



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