Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-07-21
BY d. G. ELLIOT.

In the Oluen time, the records OF
which are transmitted to us in the
verse of inspired men, when, in the
days of the ministerial king, the spar
row "sat alone upon the house-top,"
the sprightly creature which forms
the subject of our present theme was,
even as now, well known, familiar
friend.
A cosmopOlite he is also, and many
are the lands which claim him as their
own. To mighty Ninevah, with its
miles of streets, or to Jerusalem, when
in all its glory, he was no stranger,
but amid their noisy theroughfares
and crowded marts securely dwelt, as
busy with his own affairs as the most
industrious of the higher orders
around him.
No recluse is he, to shun mans pres
ence and seek the solitude of the
groves, or silent paths of shady woods,
where, aided by his assiduOus mate,
he could build his commodious nest,
distul bed only by the murmuT of tie
brook, and there bring up its little
family in peace no, indeed-the
streets of the crowded city, the noise
and hustle of countless pasSeTs-by, the
rumbling of vehicles, and all the cries
and sounds which ascend from with
in the limits which encompass the
abodes of men, are far more agreeable
to him; and beneath the caves of the
stateliest edifice, upon the porch, or
within the ivy, which, perchance,
may cover the walls, his nest is placed
and he makes himself home.
Constant in his attachments, the
English sparrow may he always found
in the particular location where he
may have chosen to dwell. Others of
the feathered race, which come to US
when the trees are blossoming and
Nature is arraying herself in her
bridal dress of spring, desert their ac-
custOmed haunts, and the spot endear-
ed to them as the home of their chirp-
ing brood, for SUMMER climes, as soon
as the chilling breath of winter is felt.
Not so with our sturdy little friend.
Let the wind blow ever so fierce
and keen, and the snow enwrap all
the land, his CHEEKY note will be heard
in the blast, as, pulled into the semb-
lance of ball, he clings to his much
loved perch, happy even amid the
storm.
have called him a cosmopolite,
and bear me witness if he does not
deserve the appellatiOn, when l re-
count the lands which consider him
their own: In Europe lie is found in
England. Sweden, Norway, Holland,
Germany, France, Spain, Portugal,
Italy, and Dalmatia; out of Europe,
in Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Persia,
and the mountains of Himalaya;
while it is more than probable that
the species inhabiting the Peninsula
and other portions of India, to which
another name has been given, is only
the same well-known bird.
To this long list of habitats, must
now be added that of the United
States, of which, within the last few
years, our friend has become natur-
allied citizen, as our streets testify
every day.
First landed in Jersey City, the
little foreigners prospered and increas-
ed, soon attaining to the dignity OF a
small colony, which dwelt in peace
in the minute thatched houses pro-
Vided for them. The benefit of their
presence was soon manifested by the
diminution in number of the measur-
ing-worm (EiROaOs SUbSigHdri), that
great destroyer of our city foliage,
which succumbed to the attacks of
our new-found friends. Energetic,
inquisitive, fearless, aye, impudent,
the sparTows would pry into every
crevice in the bark, or other hiding
place, and draw out the concealed lar
vac or reluctant worm, to be speedily
devOured as most dainty mOrsel; and
so constant were their attentions to
these pests of all pedestrians, that
they were soon eXterminated in those
portions of the city in which the birds
abode.
They were soon transported to New
York, and houses provided for them
in Union and Madison Squares, where
they rapidly increased, and where,
since their arrival, we can perceive a
diminutiOn of the same pests which
were accustomed to hang from the
trees in repulsive clusters.
In England, this unfortunate bird
is subject to all manner of persecu-
tions; but in the New World let us
hope he will be received rs the bene-
factor he really is, and treated accord
ipgly.
But the question is asked: as not
all the good which the sparrow does
offset by the injury he effects in the
destruction of grain, etc?n Doubtless,
we must reply that he is not entirely
guiltless, but let us not be oveT-hasty
to condemn him, for he only takes
the wages due for timely services well
performed. Think, if you will, my
friend, how active and important an
assistant to the farmer he has been,
when the gronnd was being prepared
for the sOwer, and afterward, when
the living germ in the seed was stTug-
Cling to pierce through its hardened
envelope to appear in the tender blade.
How many grubs and huTtful insects
has not your feathered friend destroy
ed, and through the incessant eXer-
tiOns which his instinct teaches him
to make, rendered himselfthemost i'm
portant helper of the tiller of the soil!
1.-THE insect which the farmer raises
only to east again into the earth, " our
little friend carries entirely away.
Constantly occupied, from morning
until night, in active search for the
insects which, during great portion
of the year, constitute almost his only
food, it is impossible to arrive at even
an approximate estimate of the num-
Der he destroys, or the service he rem
ders to man. Besides investigating
the bark and leaves of the trees, he
will inspect the fences and walls of
the houses, and woe to any spider
which may be found lurking in the
cTeNlceSi lOT II Is SlCSully "ANhuIdNI
and devOured.
Very little is required to keep the
sparrows through the winter; a few
handfuls of grain, occasionally
thrown near their abodes, is all
that is necessary, their energy and
cea=eless activity will provide them
with other food to enable them to
thrive.
If we take into consideration tie
benefit which the feathered tribe be-
slows upon man by destroying count
less injurious insects and Larvae, sure !
lY the small tribute which theY NAV |