EVIDENCE. — FROM AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 317 



even country villages. From the Southern States and the Western States beyond the 

 Mississippi River we have received but few returns, and most of these state that the 

 Sparrow has not been observed. In Canada it has become generally distributed over 

 the southern sections of Quebec and Ontario (it is abundant in the city of Quebec), 

 and in 1884 several flocks invaded New Brunswick. 



Few observers have definitely determined the number of broods hatched yearly by 

 this bird and the number of young to the brood. We have, however, returns from 

 several ornithologists. The maximum given by Mr. II. B. Bailey, of Orange, N. J.— 

 six broods in one seasou, with from four to five young to a brood — probably indicates 

 the extent of the bird's fertility in this climate. The usual number of broods in the 

 latitude of New York and southward appears to be four. In more northern districts 

 three broods yearly would probably be near the average. 



There is an overwhelming mass of testimony to the effect that the Sparrow molests 

 and drives away certain of our most valued species of native birds. Many statements 

 have been received giving accounts of conflicts provoked by the Sparrow in which it 

 was cruelly victorious. It is affirmed that from some localities native species have 

 been completely banished by the attacks or by the mere presence of the foreigner. 

 We have also evidence of an opposite character declaring the Sparrow's peaceable 

 disposition and its association upon amicable terms with other species of birds. 



Most of our correspondents state that they have never known the Sparrow to com- 

 mit depredations upon crops, but well-authenticated instances are furnished showing 

 its ability and disposition to accomplish great destruction to grain. Mr. Stewart, of 

 Hackensack, N. J., relates the destruction of a wide margin of wheat in the field. 

 Hon. G. A. Bicknell, of New Albany, Ind., says: "When the grain ripens, the Spar- 

 rows leave the city and attack the wheat fields in the suburbs. I have seen hundreds 

 of them at once in my fields, and they get about half the crop." Mr. T. G. Gentry, 

 in his exhaustive work on the Sparrow, gives similar instances. That the bird feeds 

 upon fruits is amply attested. 



Our thirteenth question calls for information as to the Sparrow's preference for 

 food. Is it an insect-eater or a seed-eater? Every reply to this question which is 

 based upon dissection agrees in attributing to the bird a diet almost wholly vegetable. 

 The statement of some observers that it devours canker-worms and a variety of in- 

 sects is unaccompanied by reports of examinations of the stomach. 



The question as to the food of nestling Sparrows elicited pretty uniform testimony, 

 animal matter in some form being said to constitute the bulk. Dissections by a com- 

 petent person, however, show "barely a trace of insect or animal food, but in lieu 

 fine gravel and vegetable fiber." 



Responses to questions seventeen to twenty-one inclusive are too meager to be of 

 value. 



It is claimed by several of our correspondents that the measuring- worm, so abun- 

 dant at the time of the Sparrow's introduction into this country, was well-nigh exter- 

 minated by the bird, so that for a considerable period it was unobserved. Since it is 

 a well known fact that the worm occurs in very variable numbers in different seasons, 

 credit for its comparative extermination in this case can hardly be given to the Spar- 

 row upon the doubtful evidence before us. 



The experiment has recently been tried in Philadelphia and elsewhere of substitut- 

 ing Sparrows* for pigeons in trap-shooting, but, of course, without seriously diminish- 

 ing their numbers. In other localities the birds have been poisoned or otherwise 

 gotten rid of to some extent by indignant citizens in defiance of laws. 



The balance of public opinion is strongly adverse to the Sparrows. Our returns, 

 however, show protective laws (usually the same statute which provides for the 

 security of other small birds) in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, 

 New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan, the District of Columbia, and Canada. The 

 Massachusetts law has lately been repealed, and specially exempts the English Spar- 

 row from protection. 



