HABITS OF EUROPEAN SPARROW. I I 



six and even seven are of common occurrence. Further, the clutches of 

 eggs often number more than six : so that we started on a low basis, 

 and the allowance of one-third is, I think, more than ample." The 

 following discussion ensued : — 



Mr. Travers said that Mr. Kirk's views regarding the food of the 

 sparrow did not agree with naturalists hi other countries. His expe- 

 rience led him to believe that their principal food was insects. The 

 Cicada' especially are caught in hundreds by them. It would be 

 difficult to ascertain, as suggested, by dissection, whether they contained 

 insect food or grain. If the increase is anything like what Mr. Kirk 

 contends, the air would be full of these birds. The increase really 

 depends on the amount of food they can get. That these birds are 

 useful to the agriculturist is beyond question. The increase in crops 

 is in proportion to the spread of the sparrow. The insects which used 

 to swarm in the plains in the south have now almost disappeared, owing 

 to the sparrow, and the grain has increased. The caterpillars, once so 

 numerous, are disappearing from the same cause. In Hungary they 

 made war against the sparrows ; but after a time they had to get them 

 back again, so that they might protect the wheat from the insects. The 

 sparrow was also a good scavenger. It was said that the sparrow 

 destroyed the grape, but it turned out to be the Zosterops, or the Minah. 

 The hawk mentioned as being attacked by sparrows is the kind that 

 never touches sparrows. He was an ardent admirer of the sparrow, 

 and he did not think we should grudge the small amount of grain they 

 consumed, when they were in other ways so useful. 



Sir Walter Bgller said he was prepared to accept his full share 

 of the responsibility for the introduction of the sparrow, by the Wau- 

 ganui Acclimatisation Society in 1866. While fully admitting and 

 deploring the depredations committed by this bird on the settlers' crops 

 at certain seasons of the year, he considered that the sparrow was an 

 insectivorous bird in the strictest sense ; and believing, as he did, that 

 the balance of evidence was strongly in its favour, he never lost an 

 opportunity, in public or in private, of putting in a plea for poor perse- 

 cuted Passer domesticus. He declared that during the breeding season 

 the sparrow was the farmer's best friend, for the young broods were 

 supplied entirely on insect food. Mr. Kirk's observations on the 

 fecundity of this bird in New Zealand, would give some idea of the 

 great service he performed. The sparrow had also proved instrumental 

 in exterminating the variegated Scotch thistle, which at one time 

 threatened to overrun this country, by feeding on (he seeds, and 

 preventing their dissemination. 



Mr. Denton said that it was almost impossible to ikeep sparrows 

 entirely alive on grain ; they must have insects. 



Mr. Hudson remarked that of course the great disappearance in 

 insect-life here would in some measure be accounted for by the clearing 

 of the bush, and draining of the swampy land ; no doubt the sparrow 

 had done his share. He did not think it much advantage to have the 

 C'icadce destroyed, for they did no harm. 



