EVIDENCE. — RELATION TO INSECTS. 293 



its eating insects that I have observed. (Angnst 19, 1886. Present about eleven 

 years. ) 



Lansing. Jasou E. Nichols: I have known it to feed on insects only once, and 

 that was on the harmless flies that swarm over the river. [Probably Fpliemerce.] 

 (August 26, 1886. Present several years.) 



North Adams. 0. C. Smith : From what I have seen, I believe it to be of no value 

 as an iusect exterminator ; I have yet to observe a single instance in whicb it has 

 been beneficial. (October 8, 1886. Present five years.) 



Saline (country). Norman A. Wood: It feeds upon insects only in case of starva- 

 tion. We have no bird that eats so few insects. I have never seen i'-.eat worm or 

 larva. (September 6, 1886. Present about six years.) 



Traverse City. H. D. Campbell : It feeds upon spiders around dwellings and in 

 other places. (October, 1886. Present about eight years.) 



Mississippi. — Columbus. D. C. Hodo: It is the most omnivorous of birds, and when 

 there are no vegetables or grain it eats all kinds of insects and their larvte. (Sep- 

 tember 21, 1886. Present about two years.) 



New Hampshire. — Franklin Falls. George Stolworthy : It is one of our busiest in- 

 sect-catchers during the breeding season. I have seen it feeding on grasshoppers 

 after the breeding season was over. It destroys potato-bugs, grasshoppers, and many 

 kinds of small beetles and flies. (August 24, 1886. Present six or seven years.) 



New Jersey. — Caldwell. Marcus S. Crane: I examined the crops of seven Spar- 

 rows shot at different times between August 11 and September 12. During this time 

 onr grain was stacked, and the elm-leaf beetle w r as abundant on the elms. In all 

 cases the Sparrows' crops contained grain, and the microscope failed to reveal any 

 remains of insects. (September 20, 1884. Present fourteen years.) 



Chatham. George M. S waim : It eats insects only when driven to it by lack of other 

 food. When they first came to this country I saw them eat soft-bodied, winged in- 

 sects, but have not seen them do so now for a number of years. (August 31, 1886. 

 Present about eighteen years.) 



East Orange. H. B. Bailey: It is a seed-eater, and never touches insects. I have 

 never seen a Sparrow touch a cocoon or worm of the vaporermoth (Orgyia), although, 

 trees inhabited by Sparrows are often infested by these worms. I dissected sixty 

 adult Sparrows in the height of the insect season, and never found a trace of an in- 

 sect ; nor have I ever seen one touch an insect of any kind. (February 7, 1884. Pres- 

 ent ten years or more. ) 



Orange. Lloyd McKiin Garrison : It is a seed-eater. I have dissected many Spar- 

 rows, and at all seasons of the year, but have never found a trace of an insect in 

 them, although I think the young eat insects, mainly caterpillars. The canker-worm 

 has been unusually prevalent here of late, but I never saw a Sparrow eat one. (Feb- 

 ruary 11, 1884. Present mauy years.) 



Bidgeirood, Henry Hales : In cities I have seen it catch moths of the measure- 

 Avonu in spring. I have also seen them, when sitting on a fence, fly off one after 

 another and catch flies on the wing like a time flycatcher. (January L8, 1887. Pres- 

 ent about fifteen years.) 



Trenton. Prof. Austin C. Apgar : It is mainly a seed-eater, but if forced to eat in- 

 sects will devour any kind. My kuowledge is derived from observation only. Inju- 

 rious iusects have apparently neither increased nor decreased sincethe coming of the 

 Sparrow. (February 25, 1884. Present about fourteen years.) 



New York. — Baldwinsville. Rev. W. M. Beauchamp : Twice this year I have seen 

 it catch insects. (October 15, 1885.) 



It rarely oats insects. I have occasionally seen it with insects, and have supposed 

 it carried these to its young. (September 13, 1886. Present mauy years.) 



Boonville. Edward Snow: It has been of no benefit except occasionally to catch 

 a few ii'ra-slioppcrs. (August 13, 1883. Present teu or twelve years.) 



Brooklyn. W. J. Kenyon : At times I have seen the Sparrows all collect in one 



