99 
SPABROWS. 
The observations of the “ Sparrow nuisance,” as it is well 
described, continue to show the same points which are observed year 
by year,—namely, loss from depredations of this bird on fruit-tree 
buds, &c., to fruit farmers; on young crops or vegetables, as peas, &c., 
in gardens ; and deplorable loss where the birds flock to the standing 
corn in autumn ; and, further, the increasing and widespread evil 
which is threatened through Sparrow persecution of our most valuable 
insectivorous birds. 
As every farmer throughout the country is well aware of the damage 
done to his crops, it does not appear necessary to go over details again 
which have been so often given, though they are not wanting both 
from farmers and fruit-growers, and in my own garden I have had full 
opportunity of watching the feathered pests doing damage, whilst at 
the same time they left the insect pests unharmed on the plants 
amongst which they—the House Sparrows—were feeding. 
But independently of all this serious loss, it is very important to 
draw attention to the increasing evil of truly insectivorous birds being 
driven away by the Sparrows. Personally, whilst I still lived near 
Isleworth, I found the Martins which had built plentifully under 
the eaves were driven off, so that nesting ceased consequently on the 
increase of Sparrow presence. 
Mr. Reginald W. Christy, of Boyton Hall, near Chelmsford, wrote 
me last year (1888) on this subject“ The effect of Sparrows on our 
Swallows and Martins is very marked here : the latter seldom or never 
bring off young ones. As soon as they have built their nests, the 
Sparrows come and drive them out and lay their own eggs in them. 
Both Swallows and Martins are pretty plentiful at first, but they go 
elsewhere to breed, and as a consequence, we swarm with all kinds of 
noxious gnats and flies.” 
Relatively to this point of trouble, caused by Sparrows driving 
away insectivorous birds, Mr. Ralph Lowe, of Sleaford, who for years 
attended to the subject, wrote me, in 1885, that at the Moat House, 
Leake, Boston, Lincolnshire, flies were a pest to such a serious extent 
that the occupier took my advice literally , and pretty well destroyed the 
Sparrows; the Swallows and Martins consequently established them¬ 
selves in large numbers, and the pest of insects ceased to be destructive 
in garden and orchard. 
In June of last year Mr. Champion B. Russell, of Baldwins and 
Stubbers, Essex, continuing communication with which I had been 
favoured by the late Col. Russell, of Stubbers, for some years, sent 
the following observation, which, it will be seen, shows presence of 
h 2 
