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THE ENGLISH SPARROW AS A PEST.
Sparrow traps may be classified, according to their nature, as nest-
box traps and bait traps. Inasmuch as sparrows usually feed in
flocks, but approach nest boxes only singly or in pairs, the annual
catch of a bait trap will exceed that of a nest-box trap many fold.
During the breeding season, however, nest-box traps are decidedly
useful.
NEST-BOX TRAPS.
A nest-box trap, as its name implies, looks like an ordinary nest
box. The weight of a bird entering such a trap puts into operation
a mechanism which catches the bird and sets the trap for another.
There are a number of devices to accomplish this. In designing a
nest-box trap one should bear in mind that English sparrows, like
other birds, dislike drafty quarters, and
that a mechanism delicate enough to be
operated by a sparrow's weight is likely
to get out of order unless the parts are
few and well protected from the weather.
Tesch trap.-Probably the simplest
nest-box trap yet designed is the one
illustrated by figure 5. The trap de-
scribed below is a modification of the
one invented by Mr. Charles H. Tesch,
of Milwaukee, Wis., who furnished plans
of his trap and kindly placed at our dis-
posal the results of his experiments.
With his trap Mr. Tesch caught spar-
rows bent on finding a home as fast as
they came along. The essential parts of
the trap are: (1) A box, (2) a tipping
chamber within the box, (3) a down
spout below it, and (4) a bag at the
lower end of the down spout. The di-
mensions of the several parts are given
in figure 6. The tipping chamber is made of tin, the down spout
of wood or tin, the box of wood. The roof board is cleated across
the ends, and also lengthwise between the cross cleats, for the at-
tachment of the sides, as shown in the right-hand drawing, figure
6. The close weave of a 2-bushel bag makes it suitable for the lower
end of the down spout. One of coarser fabric would allow a draft
through the spout and thus detract from the efficiency of the trap.
In building this trap the front wall is the last piece to go in place.
It is fastened there by screws, so the trap can easily be overhauled.
It is a good plan to fasten with shellac a few feathers or bits of hay
86033---Bull. 493-17-2
