10 
HOW TO DESTKOY ENGLISH SPAKKOWS. 
sparrows at these baiting places. Where sparrows infest poultry 
yards, the bait may be placed on a horizontal board, supported at 
such an elevation that the birds can be shot without danger to the 
poultry. 
UTILIZATION OF SPARROWS FOR FOOD. 
Since English sparrows are a pest and a reduction of their num¬ 
bers is important on economic grounds, there would seem to be no 
reason why the birds, when trapped or shot, should not be utilized 
for food in this country, as they have been in the Old World for 
centuries. Their flesh is palatable and nutritious, and in city res¬ 
taurants they are often served under the name of reed birds. 
POISONING. 
Where the use of poison is not prohibited by law, it may be effect¬ 
ively used to reduce the number of sparrows. Of the different 
poisons tested, the most satisfactory is strychnia sulphate. It is 
easily prepared and acts quickly. Wheat has proved to be a good 
bait, as well as an excellent vehicle for administering the poison. 
The grain should be regularly supplied at the baiting stations until 
the birds have become accustomed to resort to the place. A good 
time to put it out is early morning, as the birds are sure to be hungry 
for breakfast. The capacity of the sparrow’s crop and stomach is 
about 30 kernels of wheat, varying more or less according to the 
size of the kernels. In deciding the amount of poisoned wheat to 
put out at one time, it is well to estimate the number of sparrows 
frequenting a feeding place and to allow about 20 kernels for each 
sparrow. Although 2 kernels of wheat coated with the solution 
described below have been known to kill a sparrow, 6 or 7 kernels ax’e 
required to insure fatal results. Only as much poison should be 
put out as is likely to be eaten in one day, as exposure to moisture 
reduces its virulence. Furthermore, sparrows that take less than a 
fatal quantity, or that become frightened by the death of comrades, 
will forsake a feeding place if poison is kept there constantly. It is 
better, therefore, to supply unpoisoned wheat after each poisoning 
until the birds have recovered confidence. An important advantage 
in having several feeding grounds is that they may be used in rota¬ 
tion, the sparrows forgetting their fear of one while the others in 
turn are receiving poison. 
A poison mixture that has proved very effective is prepared as 
follows: Put one-eighth ounce of strychnia sulphate into three- 
fourths of a gill of hot water and boil until dissolved. Moisten 11 
teaspoonfuls of starch with a few drops of cold water, add it to the 
poison solution, and heat till the starch thickens. Pour the hot 
poisoned starch solution over 1 quart of wheat and stir until every 
383 
