The House-Sparrow. 341 



The particular devices for lessening the number of sparrows 

 are very numerous. Eggs and nests may be destroyed in 

 the breeding season, and young birds are readily caught during 

 summer and early winter in wicker and wire traps. Various forms 

 of nets may be employed on dark nights, around ricks, or ivy- 

 clad houses where the birds roost. Shooting with small shot 

 during winter is useful. 



As individual private effort can have but a slight effect, 

 the work of lessening the sparrow plague in a district should 

 be carried out by the formation of a Sparrow Club. 



The object to be attained should be made clearly known 

 to all who join it. Anything like indiscriminate destruction 

 of small birds in general should be strenuously avoided, the 

 object being merely to reduce the numbers of the house-sparrow. 

 Every encouragement should be given to the protection of all 

 other small birds, unless there are obvious reasons for including 

 other species than the soarrow in the black list. 



Very frequently it is found that rats can be dealt with at the 

 same time as sparrows. 



The following may be taken as a scheme of rules, which can be 

 amended or curtailed according to the peculiar requirements of 

 the district : — 



Rule I. The name of the club shall be " The and 



District Sparrow [and Rat] Club, and includes the parishes 

 of " 



Rule 2. The club shall consist of subscribers or honorary 

 members and working members. The annual subscriptions of 

 an honorary member shall be not less than 5s. [or 2s. 6d.], that of 

 a working member is. Honorary members shall be exempt from 

 bringing heads. 



Rule 3. House-sparrows and rats only to be decreased. Each 

 sparrow shall count one point, each rat two points. 



Rule 4. Each working member shall send in during the year 

 birds or rats representing not less than 300 points before he is 

 entitled to share in the division of the prize funds. 



Rule 5. No birds or rats shall count unless they are taken 



the parishes mentioned in Rule 1. Any member infringing 

 this rule shall be fined 5s. 



Rule 6. Members found smoking in stackyards or on any 



