Wild Birds in Relation to Agriculture. 
331 
subscriptions to every sparrow club in the country limited to destruction of 
this one bird, Passer domesticus. 
But reverting to the special matter, it seems to me that what we need 
most of all is a plain, sound, reference book, a “Manual of Agricultural 
Ornithology ” well illustrated, with information such as I have already sug- 
gested. 
If we could have this formed there would be a solid basis of beginning, 
and there are many who would be competent to compile it. I would on no 
account suggest that it should be weighed down either on the one hand with 
scientific technicalities, nor, on the other, with contes de ma (jrand mere, 
but I think it would meet many a difficulty soundly and well. 
I wish I coidd offer personal assistance, but though for a long period of 
my life I had a deal to do with bird observation amongst the woods and 
wooded Severn cliffs of South-West Gloucestershire, and my sister, I might 
say, is an expert about birds’-eggs and nests, I could not by possibility spare 
the time. 
I must ask you to excuse this hastily-penned letter, written, as well as I 
can think it out, on the spur of the moment, and should there fortunately be 
anj-thing in it which you may consider serviceable, it would be only a grati- 
fication to me if you would make any use you please of it. 
I cordially agree with Miss Ormerod’s view that the consult- 
ing agricultural ornithologist of the future should consider 
most carefully all applications for advice principally in “ their 
local and social bearings.” And I further venture to think that 
the scientific lady’s reference to sparrows, rooks, and birds of 
prey are admirable illustrations of that proposition — namely, the 
consideration of bird life in all “ its local and social bearings.” 
Any general ornithological knowledge must be specially applied. 
The Commons’ Committee took the evidence of thirty-eight 
experts, ranging from the learned Rector of Nunburnholme, in 
Yorkshire, Mr. Morris, and Professor Newton, the Professor 
of Zoology at Cambridge University, down to the cockney 
bird-catcher who hailed from Seven Dials. Men of science, 
farmers, market gardenei’s, including, amongst others, real out- 
of-door naturalists, pure and simple lovers of science, a barber, 
a bookseller, a picture dealer, a hair-dresser, and other trades- 
men. Yet, on the question of the criminality or otherwise 
of the sparrow there was upon the evidence a very evenly 
balanced conflict of opinion. As Miss Ormerod has appeared 
on the other side, as the lawyers say, Avithout prejudice, I put in 
a few words from the Commons’ evidence in favour of that vulgar 
but never-failing little companion of man — for all the world over, 
wherever man is, there is the sparrow, strong, hardy, and prolific.' 
I willingly admit that in some localities the sparrow takes or 
may take the place of more useful birds ; yet, to parody the old 
distich, it is possible that 
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