178 Method of Destroying Sparrows. 
Article II. — Successful Method of Destroying the House 
Sparrow. By Mr. Stafford, Gardener to R. Arkwright, 
Esq., Willersley-Castle, near Cromford, Derbyshire. 
Gentlemen, 
I SHALL feL4 much obliged by your giving this an early in- 
sertion in your useful pubHcation, as I consider that the subject Avill 
be more likely to be noticed at this season of the year, than at any 
other, on account of the devastation made by the Sparrows, both in 
fields and gardens, particularly about the beginning of autumn. 
About twenty-six years ago, I went to live at Swinfin house, near 
Lichfield; it was surrounded by a rookery, containing many thousand 
nests, under \\'hich, the Sparrows built their nests, or rather formed 
habitations amongst the inequalities of the small wood which formed 
the foundations of the rooks' nests. Such were the numbers of the 
Sparrows, that I soon found both from reports, and by my own experi- 
ence, that nothing upon which they feed escaped destruction. 
I mentioned to a relation of mine, the havoc which these birds made 
t)n my crops of peas, particularly when in a green state and fit for the 
table ; and he recommended me to make use of the following method 
for their extirpation. — Take a flat earthen dish, (a flower-pot-feeder 
will do) in this, put a quantity of soaked bread, and place it on the 
garden wall, or in some place where no domestic fowl will be likely to 
find it; by paying attention to keeping a supply, the Sparrows will 
attend quite regularly to be fed; then about the sixth or eighth day, 
mix a small (piantity of white arsenic with the bread, — this, as well as 
their other food, should be given early in a morning, and before night 
its effects will be visible both on the old and young ones. The first 
time I tried it, every part of the garden and buildings, exhibited its 
power, in the number of dead and dying birds, and Jjefore three days 
had elapsed, their destruction was so complete, that I could scarce hear 
one about the premises. My curiosity, led me to examine the ground 
under the rooks' nests, which I found thickly stre\^'ed w'lih the yoimg 
Sparrows, which had been thro'ivn out of the nests as soon as hfe had 
become extinct. 
This method I practised for the five years I was with the S\\'infin 
family, and always with the same success ; I likewise recommended 
many farmers to try its effects, who all found it to exceed their expec- 
tations. A neighbouring clergyman applied to me, one morning, for 
a little of the mixture, and before the evening he desired me to go and 
witness the destruction it had made. 
I have since, felt warranted in recommending it whenever I had an 
opportunity. And, after 25 years experience, I feel anxious to com- 
