EVIDENCE. EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 265 



Alton. Hon. William McAdaniR, president State Natural History Society: That 

 the Sparrow set ins to be usurping the place of a number of our domestic birds, or 

 rather those we have been used to having in the trees in our yards, seems to be a fact; 

 yet there seldom seems to be actual combats between the Sparrows and other birds. 

 I admit that I do not see why the robin, the blue jay, the thrush, the blackbird, oriole 

 redbird, and others should go away, but the very common expression and feeling of 

 our people here is that our native birds are now, within the last few years, much 

 less numerous; and this fact is recognized with a feeling of sorrow by everybody. 

 (August 30, 1886. Present about fourteen years.) 



Carlo)) dale. Prof. G. H. French: I have seen martins try to reclaim former nest- 

 ing sites. The bluebirds are all known to have forsaken my premises on account of 

 the Sparrow. (September 29, 1836. Present about six years.) 



Carmi. Dr. Daniel Berry : Most of our house lots are large, containing fruit and 

 shade Trees, and the complaint is general that the Sparrow hasdriven away the robin, 

 catbird, bluebird, and wren. (October 6, 1886. Present about ten years.) 



Centralia. Jabez Webster: It drives away the yellow-bird we call wild canary, 

 the wren, bluebird, swallow, bee-martin, mockingbird, and oriole. I think none of 

 our native birds except the kingbird attempt to drive it off. The bluebird, robin, 

 and thrush often have trouble with the Sparrow. I have seen#the red-headed wood- 

 pecker, when four or five of them were together, put to flight a flock of thirty-rive or 

 more Sparrows. (December '21, 1886. Present about seven years.) 



Chicago. H. K. Coale : It has driven away the bluebird, Baltimore oriole, white- 

 bellied swallow, purple martin, chipping sparrow, kingbird (once common, now rare 

 in the city), house wren, and red-eyed vireo. All these were once abundant, but 

 have now taken up quarters in the country. (August 21, 1886. Present about twelve 

 years.) 



CoUinsville (small city and country). Henry DeYTald. I have seen different small 

 birds, when driven away from their nesting sites, come back time and again, but the 

 Sparrow always kept the place. (October 5, 1886. Present about twelve years.) 



East Wheatland. W. D. Patterson : The Sparrow has occupied the nests of swal- 

 lows, purple martins, and wrens, and usually holds possession. It has driven off 

 nearly all our small insect-eating birds. (January, 1S88. Present about three years.) 

 Fernivood. George B. Holmes: In a yard near my house is a martin-box which 

 was taken possession of by the Sparrows during the winter, and when the martinsre- 

 turned there was quite a right. The Sparrow conquered, but the box was removed 

 by the owner and cleaned out. The bluebird and robin are driven away. (August 

 27, 1886. Present about live years.) 



Hillsborough. A. J. Edwards: I have no evidence of any trouble between the 

 Sparrow and other birds. (September 1, 1886. Present about seven years.) 



Jacksonville. Prof. J. B. Turner: The bluebird and blue jay seem to hold their 

 own best. Other birds seem to steadily and rapidly diminish, whether from their 

 dislike to the Sparrow or from its monopoly of the bird food, or from some unknown 

 eause, I can not tell. Apparently all the, best singing birds retire before it. I have 

 observed no special quarrels. I only observe the apparent, constant, and rapid, in- 

 crease of the one and decrease of the other, to me unexpected and still unaccountable, 

 from any specific and adequate known cause. (September, 1886.) 



Johnsonville. Jas. J. Johnson: A pair of bluebirds had nearly finished a nest 

 when the Sparrows came, two at first, then a dozen or more : but the bluebirds kept 

 their position and reared a brood. (March, 1887. Present three or four years.) 



Louisville. Conrad E. Kaehler : Martins will fight for their boxes when these are 

 taken possession of by the Sparrow. (September 27, 1886. Present about six years.) 

 Monmouth. Dr. S. M. Hamilton: There is no more war between Sparrows and 

 other birds than among birds of the same species, or between Sparrow and Sparrow. 

 Martins, robins, bluebirds, wrens, and swallows try to reclaim former haunts, but no 

 more than among themselves. The Sparrow is no match for the bluebird or robin, 



