SWALLOWS.
[To THE EDITOR or TEl " SPECTAT011."]
Sia,—Now that the swallows who have gladdened our country- side during the summer months have left us--quite a fortnight earlier than usual, I believe—perhaps something might be done to assist them to nest more freely when they return to their homes next spring. I believe most of your correspondents were agreed that the "Hunnigh " sparrow was the main cause of their diminishing numbers, at least in the case of the house martins or "window swallows," whose nests arc frequently taken possession of after their owners leave, and the martins, being soft-billed birds, find it almost impossible to regain them from the sharp, hard-billed sparrows.
I have had house-martins' nests under observation for a considerable time, and find that they are more easily cleared of sparrows during the autumn and winter months, when the
martins are not there to be disturbed by the noise of a gun. Sparrows crowd round the nests after the martins go and dispute for their po4session, if they have not already taken them, occupying them through the winter months and rearing their broods of from four to five young ones twice ut least next year; and, of course, these young ones are the most trouble- some afterwards. As it is well known that corn crops suffer considerable damage from the ravages of sparrows, and also that gardeners complain of the destruction wrought by them to peas, crocuses, &c., would it not ho possible to organize a crusade and rid the country, as far as possible, of these mischievous pests?—I am, Sir, &c., J. W. I'.
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