322 



THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 



amined where there was the slightest obscurity as to what had been eaten by the 

 Sparrows, I washed the contents of the stomachs in water, aud in all cases used a 

 lens in determining what they were. In fact, I exercised all the care possible, and 

 am perfectly satisfied that nothing of importance, least of all an insect or anything 

 pertaining to an insect, could have escaped my observation. 



To show exactly what each bird had eaten, I copy directly from my note-book, 

 giving the dissections as I made them, with the date. I also give the age of the 

 individual, and, as explanatory, will remark that by " young" I mean birds that 

 were hatched that year, and by " nestlings," birds which were not fully grown ; 

 adult being, of course, perfectly mature birds. My record commences with Septem- 

 ber 17 [1878]. 



No. 



Date. 



Age. 



Contents of stomach. 





1878. 







1 



Sept, 17 



Young .. 



Seeds and small stones. 





17 



....do.... 



Seeds, woody fibers, and bits of grass. 



3 



18 



....do.... 



Small, dark-colored seeds. 



4 



18 



....do.... 



Grass-seeds and large, double, tough-skinned seeds. 



5 



18 



....do .... 



Remains of dark-colored seeds, woody fibers, and small stones. 



6 



19 



....do.... 



Small stones predominating, with some dark-colored seeds and afew lighter- 

 colored seeds. 



7 



19 



... do ... . 



Oats, woody fibers, and small stones. 



8 



20 



...do ... 



Dark-colored seeds, small stones, and woody fibers. 



9 



20 



. . do ... . 



Green seeds, dark-colored seeds, and small stones. 



10 



20 



...do.... 



Seeds, small stones, woody fibers, aud the remain of oats. 



11 



20 



...do .. . 



Dark-colored seeds, woody fibers, oats, and small stones. 



12 



20 



... do ... 



Woody fibers, seeds, and small stones. 



13 



20 



...do.... 



Do. 



14 



20 



...do.... 



Seeds, small stones, and oats. 



15 



20 



.. do... 



Do. 



16 



20 



....do.... 



Do. 



17 



26 



...do.... 



Small stones, seeds, and woody fibers. 



18 



26 



....do.... 



Do. 



19 



26 



...do.... 



Oats, seeds, and woody fibers. 



20 



26 



...do .... 



Heeds, stones, woody fibers, and egg shells. 



21 



26 



Nestling. 



Stomach very soft;' woody fiber, leaves, and small pieces of brick. 



22 



26 



....do.... 



Seeds, small stones, small pieces of brick, bits of porcelain, and the remains 

 of a kernel of corn. 



23 



26 



....do .... 



Black seeds in quantities, and small stones. 



24 



27 



Young... 



Seeds, stones, and oats. 



25 



27 



....do.... 



Remains of corn and small stones. 



26 



Oct, 1 



....do .... 



Seeds, stones, and woody fibers. 



27 



1 



....do .... 



Black seeds and small stones, but by far the greater portion of the contents 

 of this stomach consists of woody fibers," which 1 now ascertain to be 

 macerated bits of hay from horse manure. 



28 



1 



....do.... 



Black seeds, small stones, but mainly bits of ha}' from horse manure. 



29 



2 



Adult.... 



Black seeds, with a considerable quantity of small stones. 



30 



2 



Young... 



Seeds, small stones, and bits of hay. 



31 



3 



....do ... 



Woody fibers, small stones, and oats. 



32 



3 



Adult.... 



Oats, small stones, and seeds. 



33 



3 



Youug... 



Corn, oats, and bits of hay. 



34 



3 



...do 



Oats, seeds, and bits of grass. 



35 



3 



Adult.... 



Do. 



30 



3 



Young... 



Bits of green leaves, stones, and seeds. 



37 



3 



...do:... 



Oats, seeds, and small stones. 



38 



3 



...do.... 



Seeds and small stones. 



39 



4 



Adult.... 



Green seeds, oats, black seeds, and bits of grass. 



40 



4 



...do.... 



Corn, seeds, and stones. 



41 



4 



...do .... 



Black seeds and stones. 



42 



4 



...do ... 



Bits of bay, pieces of crockery, and small stones. 



43 



4 



Young... 



Oats, seeds, and stones. 



44 



4 



Adult.... 



Bits of hay, oats, and small stones. 



45 



4 



....do.... 



Seeds, stones, and corn. 



46 



4 



Young... 



Oats, bits of hay, and small stones. 



47 



4 



Adult 



Seeds and small stones. 



48 



4 



....do .... 



Do. 



49 



4 



....do.... 



Small seeds and small yellow stones. 



50 



4 



....do.... 



Seeds, bits of hay, and small stones. 



51 



4 



Young. .. 



Black seeds and small stones. 



52 



10 



....do .... 



Seeds amd small stones. 



53 



10 



....do .... 



Seeds, small stones, and bits of hay. 



54 



30 



Adult.... 



Seeds, small stones, and oats. 



55 



10 



....do.... 



Do. 



56 



10 



..do... 



Seeds, bits of hay, and oats. 



