133 
Vol. XXIV1 
1907 J 
Estabrook, The English Sparrow Problem. 
Public opinion, in many localities, would favor extermination, 
but in many places, so-called humanitarians were, and are, still 
bitterly opposed to sparrow destruction, as in Boston in 1889. 
But the greater portion of the letters report communities to be 
entirely indifferent, and difficult to arouse to any definite action. 
As is always the case, a pest must become overwhelming, before 
the general public will pay the slightest heed. 
6. State facts and arguments, pro and con, which decide this 
problem in your own mind. 
Two letters used the argument that it was cruel to kill any living 
thing, no matter how good the reason, basing it on the point that 
the other animals had as much right to live as we had. It was also 
wrong to teach boys to kill things as it made them cruel. The 
great majority of writers were thinking of the great danger to ouy 
native birds, and this was a sufficient cause to demand exterminaV- 
tion. 
In Canada the consensus of opinion is the same as in the United 
States. But there the winters are more severe and so the bird does 
not attain to so great numbers but shows there, as here, the 
same fighting qualities that have made him most inimical to our 
native species. 
There are several methods of extermination feasible; destroying 
nests and young, shooting, and by poisoning. The poisoned grain 
is prepared by dissolving one grain of strychnine sulphate in one 
half pint of boiling water. Pour this while hot over two quarts 
of cracked corn or wheat, stirring well until all the liquid is absorbed. 
Dry thoroughly, without scorching, and put away labelled. One 
kernel of this prepared grain will kill a sparrow. Great care must 
be used with this, and it should be used only when our other graniv- 
orous birds are away. 
The English Sparrow, or House Sparrow as it is sometimes 
called, has been a pest in every country in which it has been intro- 
duced. At present in New Zealand the people are obliged to 
take the most drastic measures to exterminate them. They had 
become so extremely numerous that concerted action became 
necessary and was demanded by the people, who are now slowly 
exterminating them. A special officer was appointed in each 
county, whose sole duty it was to carry on this work. The ex- 
