284 



THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 



Among the replies to the question Under what circumstances does the 

 Sparroicfeed on insects f the following were received : 



Reports. ] Reports. 



10 Mostly in spring 3 



Mostly in fall 1 



Iu winter and spring 2 



In early spring 6 



In sparing 4 



At all times 6 



At nearly all times 2 



Whenever it can get them 5 



Under all circumstances - 5 



It carries insects to its young 25 



It feeds its young mainly on insects.. 5 

 It takes a few insects to its young. .. 7 

 It takes a very few insects to its young . 2 

 It takes insects when feeding its 



young 24 



It takes insects only when feeding its 



young 3 



It takes insects especially when feed- 

 ing its young 8 



It takes insects mainly for the young. 7 

 It takes insects during the breeding 

 season 13 



Under no circumstances whatever 



Under no circumstances, so far as ob- 

 served 



Have never known it to eat insects.. 

 Think not under any circumstances.. 



Rarely, if ever 



Rarely 10 



Never to any extent 4 



Occasionally 9 



Only as a last resort 2 



Only when starved to it 7 



In case of extreme necessity 4 



When very hungry 2 



When seed is scarce 4 



When grain is scarce 4 



When it can get no grain 25 



When it can get no grain or fruit 6 



When it can get nothing else 22 



When othei food is scarce 10 



When insects are abundant 3 



Mostly in winter 2 



Mostlv in summer 5 



Among the replies to the question What kind of insects does it destroy f 



were the following : 



Eeports. 



All kinds 9 



Nearlv all kinds 2 



Reports- 

 Few of any kind 2 



None to any extent 9 



Iii response to the question Has any case in which it has been of marked 

 benefit to the farmer or horticulturist come wider your notice f twenty- 

 seven observers replied in the negative and thirty-nine in the affirma- 

 tive. The latter in most cases stated the manner in which the benefit 

 was derived, and almost all such reports have been printed in full. 



The remainder of the testimony in relation to the Sparrow's insectiv- 

 orous habits consists of reports from about four hundred and fifty ob- 

 servers, and its character will be fairly shown by an examination of the 

 following examples, in connection with the summaries given on pages 

 101 and 102 of this Bulletin. 



Alabama. — Centre. J. J. B. McElrath : It eats the caterpillar of fruit trees and 

 grapevines. (September 20, 1886. Present two years.) 



JEvfaula. E. L. Brown : My impression, founded on observation only, is that it does 

 not feed upon insects at all. (September 17, 1886. Present four or five years.) 



Arkansas. — Helena. ' J. O. Bagwell : It will not catch a grasshopper or other insect 

 as long as it can get a living in the streets. (September 20, 1886. Present three 

 years.) 



Lonoke. A. F. Huntsman: It destroys worms, bugs, and insects in the gardens and 

 fields early in the spring, feeding constantly on almost every kind of insect and larva. 

 (September 23, 1886.) 



Osceola. Dr. D. A. Richardson : Mr. Bacchus, a druggist in town, tells me that during 



