Food of Sparrows. 



37i 



over rough roads show a tendency in that direction. This 

 is especially the case when the eggs are placed small end up, 

 the air-space at the larger end preventing the yolk floating 

 to the top when stored with that end uppermost. Another 

 noticeable point is that eggs from fowls fed on grain keep 

 better and give better results than those from poultry fed on 

 soft food and scraps. This was thought to be probably the 

 reason why ducks' eggs did not store so well as hens' eggs, 

 although it may be that some different conditions are 

 required as to temperature or moisture. 



Eggs for storage should preferably be infertile, but this is 

 not necessary, as fertile eggs, if gathered daily in the 

 morning and kept in a cool place, will keep as well ; but 

 should the germ get the slightest trace of growth, the keeping 

 quality will be much impaired. 



It is found in practice that even when the temperature of 

 the chamber comes considerably below the range given, the 

 great majority of the eggs will take no harm ; but when 

 some eggs were experimentally placed in the freezing room 

 at 10 deg. Fahr., nearly one-half were found to have cracked 

 from expansion. When, however, the temperature is not 

 allowed to fall below 30 deg., there is practically no risk. It 

 was noted that at 28 deg., an egg, if cracked, would freeze solid, 

 while with the shell unbroken it would remain quite un- 

 changed ; this was tried several times and always with the 

 same result. 



[Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, September, 1901.] 



Food of Sparrows. 



The United States Department of Agriculture have recently 

 issued a bulletin* dealing with the relation of sparrows to 

 agriculture. Although chiefly devoted to the various species 

 of American sparrows, information is also given regarding 

 the diet of the English Sparrow {Passer domcsticus), so far as 

 relates to its habits in the United States. 



The relation of this bird to man was investigated by the 



* Division of Biological Survey, Bulletin No. 15. 



B B 2 



