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tion that all existing laws protecting the Sparrow should he repealed, and 
bounties offered for its destruction ; and the law protecting the Sparrow has 
been repealed in Massachusetts and Michigan. Dr. Hart Merriam, the 
Ornithologist of the U.S.A. Board of Agriculture, also officially recommended 
immediate repeal of all laws affording protection to the English Sparrow, and 
enactment of laws making it penal to shelter or harbour it; and Prof. C. 
V. Riley, Entomologist to the Department, similarly conveyed his views 
officially as to it being a destructive bird, worthless as an insect killer. 
In Canada, on Oct. 6th, 1888, at the Annual Meeting of the Ent. Soc. of 
Ontario, Mr. J. Fletcher, Entomologist of the Experimental Farms of the 
Department, strongly advocated the destruction of the Sparrow; and in. reply 
the Hon. C. W. Drury, Minister of Agriculture (who attended the meeting as 
head of the Agricultural Department of Ontario), stated “ that this destructive 
bird was no longer under the protection of the Act of Parliament respecting 
insectivorous birds, and that every one was at liberty to aid in reducing its 
numbers.” 
Reasoning on the same grounds as to procedure in this country, we 
believe that similar action is, without any reasonable cause for doubt, called 
for here. The amount of the national loss, by reason of ravaged crops and 
serviceable birds driven away, may be estimated, without fear of exaggera¬ 
tion, at from one to two millions a year. 
We do not pretend to offer suggestions as to what may be considered 
fitting to do by Government authority, but much of their own protection lies 
in the hands of farmers themselves ; and Sparrow clubs, well worked, and 
always bearing in mind that it is only this one bird that is earnestly recom¬ 
mended to their attention, would probably lessen the load to a bearable 
amount; and we believe that subscriptions, whether local or from those who 
know the desirableness of aiding in the work of endeavouring to save the 
bread of the people from these feathered robbers, would be money wisely and 
worthily spent. 
The foregoing pages give only the main points of the subject, but a 
detailed account dealing with all necessary points is now well advanced 
towards completion and publication. 
August, 1897. 
ELEANOR A. ORMEROD, F.E.S., 
Torrington House, St. Albans. 
W. B. TEGETMEIER, M.B.O.U., 
Alexandra Grove, North Finchley, N. 
Copies of this leaflet will be sent free on application to Miss Ormerod, 
or Mr. Tegetmeier, at the above addresses, with penny stamp for postage 
accompanying. 
WEST, NEWMAN AND CO., PRINTERS, 54, HATTON GARDEN, LONDON, E.C. 
