EVIDENCE. INJURY TO GRAIN CROPS. 259 



large quantities of ripe grain from the bulls, and afterward taking what had fallen 

 to the ground. I also noticed them iu the corn. (September 7, 1886.) 



On April 20, 188G, they were observed pulling and eating sprouting wheat. (March, 

 1887. Present tweuty years or more.) 



West Chester. Dr. B. H. Warren : They alight on fields of wheat and oats, and 

 consume a great quantity of the grain, and by swaying to and fro and flapping their 

 wings they shower the remainder on the ground. (January, 1887.) 



South Carolina. — Annandale. Alexander Macbeth : I am informed that last week 

 a flock of English Sparrows visited Captain Hazzard's barn-yard near Annandale, 

 settled on a stack of rice, and commenced eating. They were with difficulty driven 

 off. (Georgetown, S. C, February 4, 1887.) 



Vermont. — Charlotte. F. H. Horsford: They ruined my field of oats, seeming to 

 prefer it to wheat or barley, though both were raised near by. (February 21, 1884.) 



Hydeville. A. I. Johnson : I have observed them in large numbers feeding on 

 wheat and oats in the fields, and they will subsist there as long as the grain is left in 

 the field. (August, 1886. Present about three years.) 



West Pawlet. Dr. Frank H. Braymer: They alight in oat fields in large numbers, 

 and injure the crop very much. (August 31, 1886. Present eleven or twelve years.) 



Virginia. — Jccotink (country). E. E. Mason : I have noticed its operations on stand- 

 ing grain and grain in the shock. (August 23, 1886. Present about twelve years.) 



New Market. George M. Neese : They are very destructive to wheat in the garner, 

 and to sorghum seed in the field. (December 30, 1885.) After wheat is cut and in 

 shocks in the field the Sparrows go in flocks and eat the wheat from the shocks. I 

 heard a farmer say they worked on his oats before it was cut. (August 27, 1886. Pres- 

 ent about twelve years.) 



Variety Mills (country). H. Martyn Micklem : Wheat fields just before harvest are 

 sometimes much injured by the Sparrow, also wheat when first sown. (December 

 21, 1886. Present about five years.) 



Wisconsin. — Milwaukee. Walter B. Hull : During the fall they move in large flocks 

 and feed on grain, etc. When frightened they rise with a "whir," like immense 

 flocks of blackbirds. (August 23, 1886. Present about six years.) 



Racine. Dr. P. R. Hoy : It visits farms and does considerable damage to wheat, oats, 

 barley, etc. The farmer would be greatly the gainer if the Sparrow were extermi- 

 nated. (November 17, 1886. Present eleven or twelve years.) 



CANADA. Ontario.— Belleville. Prof. James T. Bell : They have assembled in 

 large flocks on the grain fields of Mr. J. W. Ponton and others in the vicinity of the 

 city, and have destroyed the crops on several acres in the whole. (August 19, 1886.) 



Dunnville. Dr. G. A. McCallum : Flocks of them may be seen for miles around this 

 town frequenting wheat and other fields, but principally the grain fields; and many 

 farmers kill large numbers during the winter in and about their barns, where they 

 feed on the grain in sheaf. (August 20, 1885. Present nine or ten years.) 



Listowell. William L. Kells. Large flocks have been seen to settle down on wheat, 

 standing and in shock, and devour much of it. (August 23, 1886. Present about 

 nine years.) 



Oshawa. W. J. Stevenson: In the suburbs of the town they can be seen just be- 

 fore the grain is cut, and when it is in the stook in countless numbers completely de- 

 stroying the crop. (August 21, 1886. Present about ten years.) 



Plover Mills. R. Elliott : I have shot Sparrows in wheat fields (July 18, 1885) and 

 found a large percentage of the food at that time to be wheat taken from standing 

 grain. (September 6, 1886. Present about five years.) 



Slrathroy. L. H. Smith : What I fear about the English Sparrows is the injury they 

 may yet do to the farmers by eating their wheat. When wheat is getting ripe they 

 go out into the country in flocks and feed on it. They. are spreading out in colonies 

 amongst the farms, and should they do this to any great extent, I fear the damage 

 they may do will be considerable; still, not more than in England, and I dare say they 



