290 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 



extent. Its food is seeds, and not insects, as formerly supposed. It only feeds its 

 brood with insects while very young. (October 7, 1836. Present about three years. ) 



Lawrence. B. F. Smith: I have never observed it feeding upon insects. It was 

 brought here to look after the maple-worm, which frequently destroys the foliage of 

 the maple twice in a season. It does not feed upon that worm nor does any other 

 bird that I have observed. (January 12, 1887. Present about ten years.) 



Manhattan. Dr. Charles P. Blachly : The maple-moth has been very injurious here, 

 stripping the trees of foliage twice completely and partly athird time, in a season, and 

 making it very offensive by their droppings and by covering sidewalks and fences in 

 countless myriads. The English Sparrow has not been observed to molest them, 

 though breeding extensively in buildings overshadowed by the maples which were 

 completely defoliated by the worms. (November, 1885.) 



Manhattan. Prof. D. E.Lantz: It feeds upon the Cicada. (Autumn, 1885.) 



It has not been of any marked benefit. It feeds sparingly upon the maple-worm, 

 so destructive to the maple in this locality. During the breeding season it feeds upon 

 insects, and, although I have not investigated, I am satisfied that its food is largely 

 of this kind during the early summer months. (September 2, 1856. Present about six 

 years. ) 



Toronto. J. B. Stockton : I never saw it touch worm or fly. My trees were filled 

 with green worms, eating the foilage; but I never saw a Sparrow interfere with one, 

 while the other birds did. (October 6, 1886. Present about one year.) 



Kentucky.— Bloomfield. John Allen Terrell: It destroys caterpillars, cabbage- 

 worms, grasshoppers, and larvae of every description, except that of the potato-beetle. 

 It feeds upon insects under all circumstances. (October 5, 1886. Present about sev- 

 enteen years.) 



Bowling Green. Postmaster: I have personally examined the crox>s of twenty -seven 

 English Sparrows this summer and not found a bug or worm. (October 3, 1886- 

 Present about eight years.) 



Columhus. F. H. Gardener : It does not seem to discriminate, but eats most small 

 insects thrown in its way. (October 9, 1886. Present about three years.) 



Crescent Hill. Thomas S. Kennedy : I have not seen it interfere w r ith the cab- 

 bage-worm or its butterfly, with the codling-moth, or any beetles, cut-worms, or 

 other destructive insects, except the hairy caterpillar. It feeds its young on insects, 

 especially on the moth of the common hairy caterpillar. (October 5, 1886. Present 

 five or six years.) 



Elkton. E. W. Weathers : It seems to catch the worms from the cabbages espec- 

 ially. It feeds upon insects wiien rearing its brood, and destroys to a limited extent 

 such as are common to the garden. (October 4, 1886. Present about six years.) 



Greenville. C. W. Short: The extent to which it feeds upon insects is not worthy 

 of notice. (October 11, 1886. Present about six years.) 



Hartford. A. B. Baird: It feeds upon insects only from sheer necessity. In a very 

 few instances it has been observed feeding its young on grasshoppers. (October 5, 

 1886. Present about six years.) 



Lancaster. W. H. Wherritt : I think it feeds upon insects only when hard pressed 

 for food. In a few instances I have known it to destroy the green cabbage-worm. 

 (October 11, 1886. Present eight or nine years.) 



Louisville. J. B. Nail: It feeds upon insects whenever it can get them. I have 

 seen it eat cut-worms, and moths of various kinds. It has nearly exterminated the 

 white caterpillar that a few years ago threatened to destroy our shade trees. It eats 

 all kinds of insects to some extent. (September 8, 1886. Present about twelve 

 years.) 



Louisville. A. P. Farnsley, per J. B. Nail : I have seen English Sparrows, blue- 

 birds, tame pigeons, and blackbirds feeding upon the cut-worm and army-w r orm. I 

 am certain these birds saved me more in two seasons than they could possibly injure 

 me in twenty years. * * * A few years ago I had a barley field infested with 



