EVIDENCE. EFFECTS ON NATIVE BIRDS. 281 



so plentiful tliat I thought the wrens had a had show for success, and I closed the box 

 again, but put a small oyster can, with an opening just large enough to admit the 

 wren, on a tree about six feet from the box of contention. The wren built in the oys- 

 ter can and the Sparrow built on top of the closed box. They had a few fights dur- 

 ing nest-building, hut each reared its brooui. (August 27, 1886. Present about twelve 

 years.) 



West Virginia. — Bethany. M. E, Brown: It drives other birds away by robbing 

 their ne^ts and fighting them. A whole colony will go to the rescue of one. (Novem- 

 ber 12, 1886. Present about six years.) 



Buckhannon. Dr. J. R. Mathers : The martin, bluebird, robin, wren, and catbird are 

 all able to drive the Sparrow, but they sometimes have considerable strife before they 

 succeed. Every spring the martins can be observed driving the Sparrow from the 

 boxes that they occupied the previous year, and the robin and bluebird do the same. 

 (August 19, 1886. Present five years.) 



Elizabeth. Z. E. Thorn: The wren and bluebird seem to have become overpow- 

 ered by the numbers of Sparrows, and have nearly all left this section of country. 

 They seemed to be a match for the Sparrows until overcome by numbers. None of our 

 native birds molest the Sparrow unless first attacked. (November 4, 1886. Present 

 about two years.) 



Halltown (town and country). John H. Strider. The English Sparrow drives off 

 all other sparrows, the wren, martin, and all insect-eating birds ; in fact, all our 

 small birds, except the kingbird, and perhaps the catbird, which seems to hold his 

 own against it. (September 6, 1886. Present about seven years.) 



New Martinsville. Ben. M. Welch : It drives almost all other birds away. Whole 

 flocks will attack one bird, and it is bound to give up. (November 12, 1886. Present 

 five or six years. ) 



Wisconsin. — Clinton. C. N. Crotsenburg : The yellow-shafted flicker ( Colaptes aura- 

 tus) has been repeatedly attacked and is able to withstand them only just so long as 

 he stays in his hole ; when outside he is obliged to retreat. (April 23, 1887. Present 

 about eight years.) 



Janesville. H. L. Skavlem: I do not know that the Sparrows have taken up the 

 nesting places of our native birds. This summer a robin nested in one of my shade 

 trees, and I noticed repeatedly that Sparrows would alight in trees near by, and the 

 robin would drive them off. I do not believe there are any less native birds here 

 now than before the Sparrow came. (August 24, 1886. Present about ten years.) 



Kewaunee (country). Ransom A.Moore: In several instances the Sparrows have 

 attacked other birds, and at such times keep themselves in a body and help each 

 other. (November 8, 1886. Present about two years. ) 



Milwaukee. Walter B. Hull: Iu resisting the Sparrow's encroachments the king- 

 bird is the most courageous; a few robins always show fight, but all kinds are out- 

 numbered and almost invariably defeated. (August 23, 18 J 6. Present about six 

 years.) 



Milwaukee. Charles Keeler : The Sparrow has recently found its way into the 

 country about here, and the American goldfiuch (Spinus tristis) has become quite 

 scarce in places frequented by it. The food of the two birds is similar, and if one or 

 the other must give way it will be the goldfinch. (August 21, 1886. Present about 

 fifteen years.) 



CANADA. Ontahio. — Belleville. Prof. James T. Bell: The robin and grackle are 

 the only birds I have observed which resist or attempt to drive off the Sparrow, and 

 their success is only temporary and partial. A Sparrow will summon his fellows to fight 

 with a robin, but they appear to be afraid of the grackle. Purple martins defend their 

 nests against the incursions of the Sparrows, on Front street, Belleville, but these are 

 * the only birds I have seen so engaged. The Sparrow molests and drives off the blue- 

 bird, gold-finch {Spinus tristis), and small finches and warblers in general. (August 

 19, 1886.) 



Mr. Thomas Walker, of the township of Rawdon, who resides some 26 miles from 



