EVIDENCE.-- INCREASE AND CHECKS. 233 



ing, two hundred and fifty-four dead Sparrows were picked up, and later in the day it 

 was learned that one hundred and twenty were counted beneath another group of 

 trees near the eastern entrance of the National Museum. 



At a large roosting place in the Agricultural Grounds the destruction seems to have 

 been even greater, but most of the dead birds were carried away before being counted. 

 Several persons were seen collecting them in baskets or bags, and as the last man car- 

 ried off uearly a peck (probably one hundred or one hundred and twenty-five birds), 

 there is little doubt that three huudrcd or four hundred Sparrows were killed at 

 this roost alone. 



Thus far no birds but English Sparrows are known to have been killed by the storm, 

 but this is easily accounted for by the fact that the English Sparrows in this city 

 probably outnumber all other birds at least 500 to 1. It is also worth noting that the 

 great majority of those killed were young of the year, although perhaps two or three 

 per cent, were old birds. 



The cause of death is somewhat doubtful: Mr. Ridg way, ornithologist of the Na. 

 tional Museum, believes that the Sparrows roost together in such numbers that many 

 of them are compelled to put up with tips of branches or small twigs, where they are 

 whipped about by the wind and finally beaten to the ground and actually drowned. 

 It seems more probable, however, that while some may bo killed In the manner de- 

 scribed, the majority die from cold ; for the feathers once wet, the birds are unable to 

 keep warm, and the chill, together with the exhaustion caused by the struggle with 

 wind and rain, is too much for them. About a year ago a similar storm occurred here, 

 and on the following morning Mr. Ridgway found 50 or 60 dead Sparrows beneath one 

 tree on the Agricultural grounds. (August 13, 1887.) 



Since the above was written, it has been learned that the recent storm was very 

 destructive to Sparrows both at Baltimore, Md., and Jersey City,N. J. An account of 

 the destruction at the latter place will be found on page 236, under the head of Jersey 

 City. (September 14, 1887.) 



Washington. Michael Durkin, gardener at the navy-yard: We have used rice and 

 bread, wet and then sprinkled with arsenic, to feed the Sparrows, and many have 

 been killed in this way. We have also paid boys to pull down all the nests that 

 could be reached, but thus far little change seems to have been made in the number 

 of Sparrows. (August 22, 1887.) 



Illinois. — Bernadotte. Dr. W. S. Strode : The northern shrike has appeared here in 

 unusual numbers,, and seems to be giving its atttention mainly to this Sparrow. I 

 frequently notice one among the evergreens and shrubbery back of my office, in the 

 center of the town, in active pursuit of these little vagrants. (December 6, 1887.) 



Centralia. Jabez Webster : No means of restriction has been taken, but in cold 

 weather the boys have killed them by scattering "tailings" from a fan-mill and 

 then shooting into a flock, and have also caught them with a large sieve-trap. (De- 

 cember 21, 1886.) 



Chicago. H. K. Coale : The northern shrike (Lanius oorealis) feeds on them all win- 

 ter. Many Sparrows freeze in very cold winters. (August 21, 1886.) 



Monmouth. Dr. S. M. Hamilton : The jay is one of the Sparrow's worst enemies 

 here. It destroys many nests, and kills the young birds or eats the eggs. (Septem- 

 ber 24, 1886.) 



Quincy. J. H. Richardson : In 1870 six pairs were brought to this city, and it is 

 estimated that the progeny of these few now number tens if not hundreds of thou- 

 sands. (October 4, 1886.) 



Roclford. Dr. F. H. Kimball: I have not observed many Sparrows more than a 

 mile from the city, although occasionally a few may be seen 4 or 5 miles out. I ob- 

 served a single pair nesting in the cornice of a building in July, 1878. They raised 

 two broods that season. During the next three years they multiplied very rapidly, 

 or we received a fresh importation, for at the beginning of the winter of 1881-'82 there 

 were hundreds here, but about three-fourths of them were destroyed by the cold 



