A Bird Controversy A good deal of rather vague vapouring
about feeding and protecting birds has been heard of late, and some " distinctions that are plain and few" may be usefully recalled. To agricul- ture in general just two species are beyond all question harm- ful—pigeons and sparrows. The flocks of pigeons are mostly immigrant and they are shot in large numbers. Incidentally, many of those shot this winter are too thin to be of any use for food. The sparrows are excessively numerous because they are encouraged by urban conditions. They decimate any wheat crop grown at the edge of any town or even large village. Roughly speaking, nothing whatever is done any- where to reduce their numbers, doubtless for the reason that townspeople like their sparrows and do not see the harm they do. If they are to be attacked, the battle-ground must be among houses. It is absurd to argue that the reduction of hawks and owls is the chief cause of their multiplication. In regard to fruit-growers, a good many birds are harmful, especially the starlings, in cherry-time. A certain cherry orchard in Worcestershire cost its owner Do in cartridges ; and in spite of that expenditure he lost a large proportion of his crop. Again, finches, especially greenfinches, take severe toll of seed crops, such as mangolds. When this is said, almost all is said. Birds in general, including rooks and tits and larks, do much more good than harm.
W. REACH THOMAS.
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