Only as much poison should be put out as is
likely to be eaten in one day, as exposure to
moisture reduces its virulence. Furthermore,
sparrows that take less than a fatal quantity,
or that become frightened by the death of com
rades, will forsake a feeding place if poison
is kept there constantly. It is better, there
fore, to supply unpoisoned wheat after each
poisoning until the birds have recovered con
fidence. An important advantage in having
several feeding grounds is that they may be
used in rotation, the sparrows forgetting their
fear of one while the others in turn are re
ceiving poison.
A poison mixture that has proved very
effective is prepared as follows: Put one
eighth ounce of strychnia sulphate into three
fourths of a gill of hot water and boil until
dissolved. Moisten one and one-half teaspoon
fuls of starch with a few drops of cold water,
add it to the poison solution, and heat till the
starch thickens. Pour the hot poisoned starch
solution over one quart of wheat and stir
until every kernel is coated. Small-kerneled
wheat sold as poultry food, if reasonably
clean, is preferable to first-quality grain, being
cheaper and more easily eaten by the spar
rows. A two-quart glass fruit Jar is a good
vessel to mix in, as it is easily shaken and
allows the condition of the contents to be
seen. If the coated wheat be spread thinly
on a hard, fiat surface, it will dry enough
status of the Jews for a period of about eighty
years, ending in 1881 with the assassination
of Alexander II.
