SPARROWS. 
78 
“ [The Michigan law protecting these birds has been repealed. —Ed. 
F. & S.]” 
In the above abridgment I have omitted about a third of the entire 
report, as bearing on points of less interest to ourselves, but it will be 
seen the digest of the whole is given in the words of the original 
document in the concluding paragraphs, and I would particularly draw 
attention to the recommendation “ that sheltering or otherwise 
fostering the Sparrow by the public be discouraged.” It will be 
noticed that in the United States of America the law for protecting 
these birds lias been repealed in the States of Michigan and of 
Massachusetts, but in our country the provisions of the Wild Birds 
Protection Act leave it entirely in the bands of any occupier or owner 
of land to kill, or to give permission to whomsoever be will to kill 
these pests even in close time ; and no owner or occupier would wish 
shooting or trapping to go on without bis permission being granted. 
But “ sheltering and fostering ” the Sparrows is quite another matter, 
and, from personal knowledge, I believe a great deal of mischief is 
going on in this way throughout the country under mistaken views of 
kindness. 
During the past winter Sparrows have been sold in London 
at a shilling a dozen, and it would be a great improvement in 
the order of things if they were generally and at the right time 
of year made serviceable in forming very good pies and puddings 
for our own food, instead of taking our daily bread for their own 
satisfaction. 
We know with certainty from the State Entomologist of New York 
State of measures being in hand to check the increase of this pest in 
New Jersey by a bounty per head for Sparrows destroyed ; and, as far 
as my own opinion goes, I believe that a similar course throughout 
this country, carried on with a due regard to legal restrictions at the 
time when this bird shares the protection accorded generally to wild 
* 
birds, is a measure urgently called for, and that all farmers would 
benefit enormously, both in direct saving of crops and vegetables, and 
in the return of serviceable insectivorous birds. 
