EVIDENCE. FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 315 



[Forest and Stream, Vol. XXV, No. 2, pp. 24, 25. August G, 1885.] 

 THE ENGLISH SPARROW.— VERDICT OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 



At the meeting of the Council of the American Ornithologists' Union, held in 

 Washington, April 21, 1885, the committee appointed in September, 1883, to inquire 

 into the question of the eligibility or ineligibility of the European House Sparrow in 

 America, rendered its final report, which was accepted and adopted as the sense of the 

 Union on the subject, and the committee was discharged with the unanimous thanks 

 of the Union. The report, which was accompanied by a large quantity of valuable 

 data, is here given : 



Mr. President and members of the Union : 



Your committee, appointed to inquire into the eligibility of the European House 

 Sparrow (Passer domesticus) as a naturalized resident in this country, has the honor 

 herewith to submit its report. After due consideration, your committee adopted the 

 following form of circular letter, which was framed to elicit information from all 

 quarters and from all interested persons: 



" The American Ornithologists' Union, an organization resembling the British as- 

 sociation of similar name, and including in its active membership the most prominent 

 ornithologists of the United States and Canada, purposes, among other objects al- 

 ready engaging its attention, to determine as nearly as possible the true status in 

 America of the European House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), commonly known as the 

 English Sparrow, in so far as the relations of this bird to mankind are concerned. 

 The Union hopes to secure, through the solicited testimony of others, as well as the 

 personal observations of its members, the facts necessary to settle the question of the 

 eligibility or ineligibility of this Sparrow as a naturalized resident of this country. 

 The question of the European House Sparrow in America is regarded as one of great 

 economic consequence, to be determined primarily by ascertaining whether this bird 

 be, upon the whole, directly or indirectly injurious or beneficial to agriculture aud 

 horticulture. Its economic relations depend directly and mainly upon the nature of 

 its food; indirectly upon the effect, if any, which its presence may have on useful 

 native birds and beneficial insects. The accompanying formula of questions is re- 

 spectfully submitted to the attention of those who may be able aud willing to record 

 statements of positive facts and value derived from their own experience. Concise 

 and unquestionable answers returned to the undersigned on inclosed blank, or other- 

 wise, or communicated to any member of the committee, will be appreciated and 

 prove of high value among the data upon which it is hoped that this vexed question 

 may be set at rest. The evidence thus obtained will be carefully considered by the 

 committee in preparing its report to the Council of the Union, and a digest of the 

 same, with recommendations, if any, will be submitted by the Council to the mature 

 judgment of the Union at its next annual meeting. The following-named active 

 members of the Union were, at the first congress, appointed a committee to investi- 

 gate aud report upon this subject : Dr. J. B. Holder, of New York, chairman ; Mr. 

 Eugene P. Bicknell, of New York ; Mr. H. A. Purdie, of Boston, Mass. ; Mr. Nathan 

 Clifford Brown, of Portland, Me. ; Mr. Montague Chamberlain, of St. John, New 

 Brunswick; the committee having the power of increasing its membership at its dis- 

 cretion. 



Dr. J. B. Holder, Chairman. 



11 American Museum of Natural History, 



Central Park, New York City, February 2, 1884. 



"Data concerning the European House Sparrow, from . 



"1. Is the European House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) known in your neighbor- 

 hood, and, if so, about when did it appear ? 2. Is your neighborhood city, suburbs, 

 or country ? 'A. Is this Sparrow abundant? 4. Is it increasing in numbers? 5. How 



