66 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 21, 1884. 



T F 



THE ENGLISH SPARROW. 



"Mil' Following- circular concerning the proposed investi- 

 JL gallon of the English sparrow explains itself: 



The American Ornithologists' Union, ati organization resembling 



the British association of similar name, and including in Its active 

 membership the most prominent ornithologists of the pnited States 

 and Canada, purposes, among other objects already engaging its at- 

 tention, to determine as lienrlv as possible the true status in America 

 Of the Europeo.ii house-sparrow {l'oss>r tloincsticus). eomnionlv 

 known as the English sparrow, in so far as the relations of this bird 



to mankind are concerned. The Onion hopes to secure through the 



solicited testimony of others, as well as the personal observations of 

 its members, flie facts n.-eessan to settle the i|iiesl.ion of the eligi- 

 bility 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 bedetermiued primarily by 

 ascertaining whether this bird he. upon the whole, directly or indi- 

 rectly, injurious or beneficial to agriculture and horticulture. Its 

 economic relations depend directly and mainly upon the nature of 

 its food: indirectly upon the effect, it any. which its presence may 

 have on useful native birds and beneficial insects. 



The accompanying formula of questions is respectfully submitted 

 tot lie attention Of those who may bo able and willing to record state- 

 ments Of positive fact and value derived from their own experience. 

 Concise anil ujiquesl lonable answers returned to the undersigned on 

 inclosed blank, or Otherwise, or communicated to any member of 

 t lie committee will be appreciated and prove of high value among the 

 data, upon which if 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 he 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 investigate and report upon 

 this subject : 



Dr. J. B. Holder, of New York, Chairman; Mr. Eugene B lhcknell, 

 of New York: Mr. H. A. I'lmhe, of Boston. Mass.; Mr. Nathan Clifford 

 Brown, of Pordaud, Me.; Mr. Montague Chamberlain, of St. John, 

 New Brunswick; the committee having the power of increasing its 

 membership at its discretion. Du. J". B. Holder, Chairman, 



(American Museum of Natural Hist, ry, Centra) Park, K. T. City.) 



Nsw York, Februarys, 1884. 



The appended list of questions show very clearly the 

 character of the information desired: 



I. (8 the European house sparrow (Pa.s-.sv/- diiDifsl irits) known in 

 your neighborhood, and if so, about when did it appear:' 



-,'. Is your neighborhood city, suburbs or country? 



3. Is this sparrow abundant? 



4. Js it increasing in numbers! 



5. How many broods and young, yearly, to a pair? 



6. Is this sparrow protected by law? 



7. Is it artificially fed and housed? 



8. Does it molest, drive away or diminish the numbers of native 

 birds; 



9. If so. what species? 



10. Does this sparrow injure shade, fruit or ornamental trees? 



II, Does it attack or injure garden fruits and vegetables? 



15. Hoes it injure grain crops? 



i:i. Is it an insect eater or a seed eater? 



1-4. What, insects, if any, are chiefly eaten by this span- >w? 



35. What is the principal food it carries to its young? 



16. What insects, if iinv, are carrievl by it to its young? 



17. Hoes the food of the old bird vary with the seasons, and if so, 

 n what way? 



18. Does the food of its young vary, and if so. how? 



19. If any insects are eaten, are they beneficial or injurious species? 

 i >oes this sparrow eat the larva 1 of the vapourer moth MV:.v/o 



leucostigma)? 



SI. Does it eat ichneumon flies? 



88. Do you determine the nature of this bird's food aud that fur- 

 nished by it to its young by inference, direct observation or dissec- 

 tion? • 



Have any injurious insects been exterminated or materially 

 lessened in numbers by this sparrow? 



84. Have any injurious insects increased in numbers, or appeared 



where unknown before, in consequence of the destruction or other 



insects h\ this spai-iow? 



25. Have these sparrows in your neighborhood been destroyed 

 systematically or of her wise, and it so, by what means? 



86. What bounty, if any, bas been offered tor their destruction! 



87. What is the general sentiment or balance of public opinion re- 

 specting the European bouse sparrow in your locality? 



88. On the whole, in your judgment, is this sparrow an eligible or 

 ineligible species in this country? 



fynfe |?#if m\A 



FUR QUOTATIONS. 



THE following prices, for prime skins only, according to size, color 

 and quality, as realized by the New York commission mer- 

 chants, have been furnished by Messrs. Win. Macnaughfan's Sons, 

 Commission merchants, No. 3 Howard street, New York: 



Antelope— North America, ra w, $ lb $ :W@ 35 



Dressed, as to quality, M lb 1 (Hi© 1 85 



Deer Florida, raw. $ ft 80t& 10 



Rocky Mountain, raw, "jjUb 30® 35 



Pacific Coast, raw, " v j lb 25® 30 



Kit; Pacific Coast hides, $ tb 80® 80 



Western skins, fj ft BS@ 80 



Pressed, as to quality, '|,? ft KOftji 1 00 



Mountain I>ccr Western, y 0:> 80® 85 



Reindeer- American, raw, $ lb 80® 



Dressed, as to quality 80 



Beaver-Labrador, large 8 00@10 00 



Lake Superior and Canada, large 6 00(c > S no 



Upper Missouri, large ' B 00® S 00 



Southern, large 8 Q0@ 5 00 



Badger —American, large and full furred, each SO® 1 00 



Pea- -Hudson's. Baj . black, large, each 15 00@80 00 



United States. In-own. large, each 7 00®10 00 



Southern U. S., black, large, each 7 00®10 00 



Cutis from i., to L of the above. 



Buffalo robes, in bulk » 00@10 00 



Buckskin Western, % Kb t oo® 1 25 



Pacific Coast, \\t lb 1 %W i < r > 



Cat Wild, each 40® bO 



House, each 10® 80 



Ermme and white weasel 5® 10 



Fisher Darkcased & OO^ia 00 



Pale : 7 OOC 



Reddish ■> O0@ S 00 



Fox— Bed, United States, each 1 40® 1 00 



Red, Territories 1 80® 1 80 



t iross, ordinary 8 oo® 6 oo 



Cray. United States 1 00® 1 10 



Kill', North America 50® 60 



Silver, North America 35 00@50 00 



Lynx Canada 4 00® 5 00 



Minnesota 3< 



Marl en -Dark 8 ' 



Pale 1 85® 1 75 



Mink -Pale, Southern U. S ti |; 



Pa.le, Western United Stales BOG 



Hark, Minnesota «j® ' 00 



I lark, New England J <'0@ 1 SB 



Lark, Quebec and Halifax 1 85®. 1 75 



Musquash -Spring, Canada and Eastern .20® 22 



Spring, Western Duited States 14® 18 



Spring. Southern United States 10® 12 



Fail, Canada and Eastern 16 @ 1! > 



Kail, Western United States lg® It 



Kail. Southern United States 8® I' 1 



Opossum - Cased, Ohio 80® 40 



Southern Unifcil States and common 10® 15 



Otter Labrador, cased 10 00®li, 00 



Northern United States 7 00@10 00 



Western U idled Slates 5 00® 7 00 



Southern United Slates 2 00® 5 00 



Raccoon Michigan 00® 1 10 



Western United States 70® 90 



Southern United Stales 40® W) 



Rabbit Raw, America 2® f 



Skunk I Slack i a.scd. America 1 20® 1 dO 



Short stripe, America 7°® 80 



Long stripe, America 80® 40 



White, America 10® 20 



Territory, long stripe 30® 40 



Wolf- 1 *rge, each 8 01 



Timber 1 60® S 00 



Prairie 1 25® 1 50 



"Wolverine- North America 8 00® 5 00 



THE LAW AGAINST SPRING SHOOTING. 



Wflftor Forest and BtVeam; 



The long period pf murky weather we have lately had 

 started the woodcock and snipe to migrate from the south, 

 and T have heard of quite, a number having dropped in about 

 Philadelphia and ihe near counties of New Jersey. The 

 cold snap_ coming on us at the present time, although not 



severe, will C&USe our early visitors to seek Springy spots as 

 the ground has hardened again, and in ordinary places can- 

 not be punctured by the bifl of either woodcock or snipo. 



Friends who were near Absecom, N. .7., fitting up a new 

 club house, last week, told me they started a few Wilson's 

 snipe on the fresh meadows bordering the salt marshes near 

 that place, and I have every reason to believe their report. 

 Of course the bulk of birds will delay their coming until the 

 weather is fairly settled and the frost is entirely out of the 

 ground, but 1 think we will have poor snipe shooting this 

 spring- with us, for the reason that the birds will not in any 

 great, numbers migrate our way, but be attracted west of us. 

 The Vast extent of country inundated by the late overflow 

 of ■Western rivers will create most excellent, feeding grounds 

 when the Waters have subsided to their normal condition, 

 and the snipe will most surely seek them, and the migrations 

 of the great body of birds will he to the west of the Alle- 

 gheny Mountains on their way north. These inundated and, 

 as it were, irrigated regions, will produce during the coming 

 summer a rank and heavy growth of vegetation, and cause 

 the grounds to he unfavorable for snipe, and we no doubt 

 will be benefited by the birds returning to the south more 

 direct I v pissing our way on the Atlantic coast, thus allowing 

 us the better to make their acquaintance. 



Sprigtail ducks are plentiful in our bay and river. Mr. 

 Milburu has returned from a, trip today with an excellent 

 showing. On both the New Jersey and Delaware State 

 shores of the Delaware, the flats and marshes at low water 

 are thronged with marsh thicks of all the varieties. The 

 snow geese still remain in their favorite locality below Bom- 

 bay Hook, and use the marshes there regularly. A few 

 have been seen as high up as Port. Penu, and a pair killed 

 there. An albino mallard, or black duck — it is difficult to 

 decide which — was shot near Chester, Pa., by a local gun- 

 ner, who bas bi ought it to John "Krider, Philadelphia, for 

 mounting. 



We are all hoping the States of New York, New Jersey 

 ami Delaware will pass a similar law relative to the web- 

 footed game as our State did at the last session of its Legis- 

 lature, and fha] we will soon have throughout the entire 

 land the protection of all game in the spring. As yet the 

 law applying to duck shooting in our State does not go into 

 effect on the Delaware, but applies only to inland "waters, 

 owing to the fact that our neighboring State across the river 

 has not adopted a similar one. As soon as New Jersey 

 passes such an act there will be perfect protection for fowl 

 in the spring; or, I should say, there will be a law providing 

 for the protection of wildfowl, if it is ever carried into 

 effect, We have, however, enough faith in the West Jersey 

 Game Protective Association to believe it will sec to the en- 

 forcement of ;ill laws which come under its jurisdiction. 



Spring appears to be near upon us, already shad fishermen 



are overhauling their gibing nets, and from talks with the 



weatherwise ones among them we are expected to have au 



early opening; but "one swallow does not make a summer." 



Philadelphia, Feb. 16. HOMO. 



UNIFORM NEW ENGLAND LAWS. 



WE give below the draft of the proposed uniform game 

 law, which was adopted at Boston by a convention 

 of representatives from the New England States. The move- 

 ment is due to the efforts of the Massachusetts Fish and 

 (Tame Protective Association, ;md at the meeting the follow- 

 ing Commissioners were present: Maine— Hon. E. M. Still- 

 well, Henry 0. Stanley, J. 11. Kimball; New Hampshin — 

 E. Bj Hodges. Edward Spaulding, Luther Hayes; Vermont— 

 Hiram Cutting. Herbert Brainerd; Massachusetts — E. A. 

 Bracket t, Hon; E. A. Bathrop, Prof. H. W. Putnam: Rhode 

 Island-Alfred A. Reed, John II. Borden, Newton Dexter; 

 Connecticut— Dr. W. M. Hudson, Robert G. Pike, George 

 N.Woodruff. Among the invited guest* were His Excel- 

 lency Gov. Robinson, Hon. George A. Bruce, president of 

 the Senate; Charles V. Whitteh, chairman of the Board of 

 Aldermen; Rev. E. A. Ilorton, Hon. Chas. Levi Woodbury, 

 Augustus Whittemore, president Boston Merchants' Asso- 

 ciation, and Wallace F. Robinson, president Produce Ex- 

 change. 



The provisions adopted were as follows: 



Section 1. It shall be unlawful to wilfully take or kill 

 any woodcock, or r titled grouse, commonly called partridge, 

 or "any quail, between Jan. 1 and Sept. 15 following, within 

 the limits of this commonwealth. 



See. 3. It shall be unlawful to buy, sell, offer for sale or 

 have in possession any woodcoek, or any ruffed grouse, 

 commonly called partridge, or any quail, between Jan. 1 

 and Sept. 15 following, wherever or whenever the birds 

 aforesaid may have been taken or killed. 



See. 8. It shall be unlawful to wilfully lake or kill any 

 WOOd or summer duck, black-duck or leal between April 1 

 and Sept. 1 following. 



Sec. 4. If shall be unlawful to take or kill any plover, 

 Snipe, sandpiper, rail or any of the so-called marsh, beach or 

 shove birds, except Wilson "snipe, between April 1 and July 



t following, 



Sec. 5. It shall be unlawful to wilfully take vt kill any pin- 

 nated grouse, commonly called prairie chicken or heath hen, 

 between Jan. 1 and Sept. 15 following. 



Sec. 6, It shall be unlawful to wilfully take or kill any 

 wilii or passenger pigeon, Carolina or turtle dove, herring 

 gull, tern, sea swallow, or mackerel gull, between April 1 

 and Sept. 1. 



Sec. 7. Any person violating any of the provisions of 

 the preceding sections of this chapter shall be punished by a 

 line of $80 tor every bird taken, killed, bought, sold, had in 

 possession or offered for sale in violation of the provisions 

 of this act, 



Sec. 8. Whoever takes or kills any domesticated bird 

 not named in the preceding sections, except birds of prey, 

 crows, crow blackbirds, English sparrows, jays, wild geese, 

 herons, bitterns, and such fresh water find sea fowl as arc 

 not named in the preceding sections, or wilfully destroys, 

 disturbs, or takes a neat of eggs of any undomestieated birds, 

 except birds of prey, crows, crow blackbirds. English spar- 

 rows uucl jays, shall be punished by a fine of $10 for every 



such offense; provided any person above the age of sixteeA 

 years having a certificate from the board of commissioners of 

 inland fisheries and game, to the effect that said person m 

 engaged in the scientific study of ornithology, may i 

 nest or eggs of, or at any season of the year may take or kill 

 any undomestieated birds, except, those 'named in section 1, 



Sec. 9. Whoever hunts, chases or kills a deer within the 

 counties of Plymouth or Barnstable between Dec. 1 aniS 

 Nov. 1 following, shall be punished by a line of $100 f 0?. 

 every such olI'ense;and whoever in said counties at an» 

 times hunts or chases a deer with a hound or with any dog 

 weighing more than 25 pounds, or hunts or kills a deer in any 

 pond or river or within*100 yards thereof, shall be punisheJH 

 by a line of $100 for every such offense. 



Sec. 10. Whoever takes or kills a gray squirrel, hare or 

 rabbit between March I and Sept. 15 following, shall he 

 punished by a tine of $10 for every such offense. 



Sec. 11. Whoever at any season of the year takes, kills _| 

 destroys a game bird, hare or rabbit, by" means of a trap, 

 snare, net or springs, or by the use of a ferret, or whoever- 

 for the purpose of taking or killing a game bird, hare or 

 rabbit, constructs or sets any trap, snare, net or springs, or 

 uses a ferret, or whoever shoots at or kills any wild fowl or 

 any of the, so-called shore, marsh or beach birds, with or by 

 the use of a battery, swivel or pivot gun, or by the use of _ 

 torch, jack or artificial light, shall be punished by a fine of 

 $30 for every such offense. 



Sec. 12. The possession of any deer, or of any of the bin 

 or animals mentioned as protected in sections ;■>, 4, 5, 6, 8 

 and 10 of this chapter, during the time in which the killinJ 

 or taking of the same is forbidden, shall be prima facfl 

 evidence of the unlawful killing of the same, 



Sec. 18. The commissioners oj. inland fisheries shall hav_ 

 authority to act as game commissioners also and the_j 

 authority shall extend to the protection and preservation __ 

 game birds and animals in like manner as to fishes. 



Sec. 14. It shall be the duty of every officer qualified to 

 serve criminal processes to arrest without warrant, any per- 1 

 son whom they shall find violating any of the provisions of J 

 this act. and bring such offender before a magistrate. Any I 

 officer neglecting or refusing diligently to enforce the pr»| 

 visions of this act, upon proper information and complahiwl 

 shall be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both. 



Sec. 15. Any justice or magistrate ou receiving proof, or J 

 having reasonable cause for believing in the concealment flH 

 any game mentioned in this act during the time the poss_H 

 sion of such game is prohibited, shall issue his search wlH 

 rant, and cause search to be made in any market, store c_j 

 other building, except dwelling houses, or in any boat, e;u 

 or vehicle of any description whatever; and for that end may f 

 cause any apartment, chest, locker, box, crate, basket oil 

 package of whatever nature to be broken open and the eou-1 

 tents examined. 



Sec. 16. All fines accruing under this act shall be paiflj 

 one-half to the complainant and one-half to the city or towil 

 wherein the offense is committed. 



Sec. 17. Chap. 92 of the Public Statutes, chap. 199of tl«J 

 acts of 1882, chap. 169 of the acts of 188:1 and all nets fill 

 parts of acts inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed. 



Sees. 4, 7, 9 and 13 were recommitted to thcMassachusetfli 

 Fish and Game Association for amendment; the rest wdH 

 adopted for presenting to the Legislatures of the New Engl 

 land States as early as possible. 



The matter of fish laws was taken up, and it was voteM 

 that the closed time for lobsters should lie from Aug. 15 Jgl 



Sept, 15, and no lobster less than twelve inches should bel 



sold. 



THE PERFORMANCE OF SHOTGUNS.] 



Editor Ports' and Strea/rii: _ J 



1 notice, in your issue of Jan. 24, an article on the "Penl 

 fortnance of Shotguns," signed "Backwoods,'' and what __ 

 says in relation to the effectiveness of the "muzzleloadnU 

 over the new tangled "breechloader," corresponds with ml 

 experience exactly. 



1 own a muzzleloader that was bought in New York cifjl 

 in 1849, for the sum of $60, and a belter shooter no map! 

 ever carried, 1 have killed a. single dove seventy yards wilffll 

 No. 7 shot, and many squirrels in the lops of the tallest! 

 cypress trees in our swamps, have fallen victims o| i,< uu'l 

 failing power. The gentleman from whom my lathi i 

 it (in 1855) told me that he had killed a buck with il ■ 

 yards, using common buckshot for his load. The cb__ 

 was one tl'rain of powder and thirteen buckshot. "NcWJ 

 where is Ihe breechloader that can make such a recorC__ 

 this? 



The barrels are worn as thin as a knife-blade at tin I 

 muzzle, and within the past year it has, for the first tiui®| 

 shown signs of failing. It is a 13-bore, 32-inch, weighs uinljj 

 pounds. Canyon suggest a plan whereby 1 can ihorougfll 

 clean and resmooth the barrels? If this could be donOl 

 think it will shoot as good as ever. 



What I want, is a gun that 1 can kill a quail or dove WH 

 No. 8 shot, sixty yards, or seventj if need be, and a breeoffl 

 loader, chokebored or not, will 'not do it. At least I havt| 

 never seen one that would, although my experience I, 

 limited. Ogeecuej» 



Wadlev, Ctti. 



Editor Fond and Stream: 



1 notice in your issue of Jan. 24 an inquiry as to the Jl 

 spective shooting qualities of the muzzle and breechloadSF 1 

 gun. I thought that question had been unanimously, so P 

 as shotguns were concerned, settled in favor of the bre" 

 loader, but I see that away down in Virginia there ia 



"donbtina- Thomas" on this subject. In answer to hi 

 quiry as to the proper performance of a good breechloader! 

 1 would say that at forty yards, with 1J- ounces of NflH 

 shot (Tatbam's400 to the ounce) and 5 drams of powdcM 

 good 10-gauge gun should put from 875 to 440 pe 

 80-inch Circle, with penetration equal, if not superiorJH 

 any inuzzleloader it has ever been my fortune to ex] 

 with. 1 do not believe that there ever was a muz 

 made, no matter how carefully bored, that would give till 

 same pattern and penetration as a chokebored breechloa^H 

 I do believe, however, that a greater quantity of powdB; 

 must be used in the breechloader to get equal results in \ 

 etration with a inuzzleloader, in guns of equal bore and 

 same weight of shot.__ 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



1 have made some tests and trials that have been both i 

 isfactory and beneficial to myself. Last fall, before I 

 opening of the season, I purchased an entire new outfit. ' 

 gun was the latest improved arm of one of our most pro 

 nent American makers; a .12-30-7! modified choke. 



The pattern of this gun, as it came from the maker, 



