130 General Notes. [ February, 
Several years earlier came that other pest, the European sparrow 
(Passer domesticus), and has -pretty thoroughly driven away 
most of the other species of birds that are usually common 
about dwellings. On my own premises, instead of the cheerful 
music of the wren, robin and cat-bird, which formerly helped to 
make the surroundings attractive, I am compelled to be annoyed 
by miserable squeaks. This season a cabbage patch in my gar- 
den became thoroughly infested by the worms; I looked anx- 
iously to see how thoroughly the European sparrow would do the 
work for which it has been transported over thousands of miles 
of land and water. But it was very seldom that any of the 
numerous individuals that have harbored about me for the past 
several years ever went near the patch; occasionally one of the 
young would fly down and take a worm, but I never saw a full- 
grown individual take one. 
By accident I was observing the patch early in the morning, 
from day-break to a short time after sun-rise, when I chanced to 
find a number of chipping sparrows (Spizella socialis Bon.), taking 
worms as busily as possible. By continuing my observations I 
seen in the patch. Whether this early feeding is the natural 
habit of this species, or whether it was not allowed to go about 
the premises during the rest of the day, I cannot say. But it 
did such efficient work that I feel it my duty to make it as widely 
known as possible.—.S. Schneck, M.D., Mt. Carmel, Ji. 
DEPREDATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN neea —The following 
case, represented to me by Dr. A. K. Fisher, of Sing Sing, N. Y., 
substantiates one of the many cani brought against Passer 
domesticus, 
“ About a year ago I was interested in watching a sparrow 
pulling up peas in a neighbor's garden. The peas were up about 
an inch; the bird went along the row, taking the vines in his bill, 
placing his foot near the roots and pulling up the shoots and eat- 
ing the peas. I saw him thus destroy several, when I stopped 
him by throwing a stone which unluckily missed him. 
“ The old saying that ‘ Birds of a feather flock together’ is veri- 
fied in the case of the sparrow’s associates. The only bird which 
I have ever found which seemed to enjoy the company of the 
English sparrow, is that miserable form of bird life, the Molo- 
thrus ater. It would be difficut to find two more disreputable 
birds than this precious pair. Here they mix together a good 
deal, especially when the sparrows are a little way out of the vil- 
lage.’ ’'—Elliott Coues, Washington, 
ON THE TorPIDITY OF ANIMALS.—Some time in early December, 
1878, when the snow first began to fly, a silver-haired bat, without 
a place to lie dormint: in for the winter, flew into mg hallway, about 
