24 
country. Dr. Black and himself had not yet conquered the diffi¬ 
culties of introducing the nearly allied castor-oil silkworm, but still 
continued their endeavours, with every expectation of success. He 
s louhl like to say a word in reference to the revival in this country 
o the opinions held by members of the sparrow clubs, which some 
years ago were so well caricatured in Punch, and other sensible 
journals. Ikere was no doubt that the adult sparrow fed upon 
£.rain ; that it was an excessively prolific bird, breeding a great 
number of times in the year, and bringing forth a great number of 
birds. There was no doubt that these young were fed entirely 
upon grubs and other insects, which destroyed the produce of the 
garden and the vineyard. In many parts of Europe and America 
the common sparrow, and creatures congeneric with it, had over 
and over again been protected by legislative enactments, after the 
careful investigations of committees, scientific commissions, and of 
persons able to judge of the matter. All the dissections and other 
investigations on this subject showed that the good done by these 
birds in destroying the grubs which infested gardens and fields, 
infinitely exceeded the value of any little grain or seed which these 
creatures might cat themselves. Many people seeing these birds 
about, had jumped to the conclusion that any loss of fruit or grain 
which they had sustained was to be attributed to the sparrows, and 
it had even been suggested that sparrow clubs should be established 
in this colony for their destruction. Now, on the continent of 
Europe and m America these birds, and birds of a similar character 
had been destroyed by the farmers, and had afterwards—he was 
speaking on the authority of the great ornithologists Wilson and 
Audubon-been re-introduced at great expense, and from the 
painful experience forced upon the farmers that the insects 
destroyed were infinitely more noxious than the birds themselves. 
Professor M‘Coy concluded by moving the adoption of the report 
and balance-sheet. 
1 lie adoption of the report and balance-sheet was seconded by 
Mr. C. M. Officer, and carried unanimously. 
Mr. A. 11. <J. Sblwyn moved “that the appointment of Mr. L 
J. Sherrard be confirmed, and that Messrs. F. G. Moule, C. M. Officer 
and J. Towers, be elected to fill the vacancy in the Council. 
This was seconded by Mr. G. 0. Levey, and carried unanimously. 
On the motion of Mr. A. Purchas, seconded by Dr. Mueller 
the date of the commencement of the Society’s financial year wal 
altered from 1st September to 1st January. 
