The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-03-06
English SparrOws.-From the few fami

English SparrOws.-From the few fami
lies of sparrows imported from Europe for
the purpose of destroying the worms which
infested the trees in the parks and streets
of the large cities, they have multiplied
rapidly and are found in all the towns and
villages within fifty miles of the cities where
the first colonies were established. The
present Winter, We have noticed for the
first time that two or three families have
found their way to our town, and in the
bright Winter mornings might be seen and
heard twittering and hopping about the
clusters of creepers that cling to the walls
of houses, where these little domestic birds
severe weather. Our shade trees have been
infested with worms in the hot months,
which will increase rapidly if they are not
destroyed, and there has been no remedy
found for the worm nuisance which destroy
the foliage of shade trees, except the spar
row. These little birds have cleared the
worms, which preyed upon the street and
park trees of Philadelphia, New York,
Boston and other Atlantic cities north of
us, when all human efforts had failed.
To encourage and help the sparrows,
every one who would show proper appre-
citation of the little strangers, should put
up a box for their accommodation. Any
little box, such as are often provided for
wtens to nest in, will answer for the spar
rows. A hole about an inch and a quarter
or inch and half in diameter, should be
male for entrance and exit, and the spar
rows will show their gratitude by taking
possession of the house provided for their
use, and rearing family or two the follow
ing Spring and Summer.
A great deal has been said and written
pro and con about the sparrows; their enc
mics declaring they are the greatest scourge
to the farmer, gardener &C., in existence;
but the ornithologists of Europe who have
studied the sparrow's habits, and under
stand him thoroughly, are generally found
in opposition to his prosecutors. The most
enlightened ornithologists of France place
the sparrow at the head of the list of
useful birds. In that country they
are protected by law at all times; the vine
growers of Burgundy petitioned the French
Parliament for laws to protect them
when they we're threatened with extinction
by bird saughterers; and as the birds grew
weak in numbers the insects increased in
myriads and destroyed the vines. In Swift
erland, Hungary, Prussia ard other pro-
vinces of Europe the sparrows have been
protected by law for more than a century,
experience having compelled the farmers to
ask protection for these birds. While our
Public Schools are crammed with a multi
tude of useless books, we might profitably
initiate the Swiss Republic in introducing
school books which teach the history and
use of birds. Such books would both in
terest and profit the children. Where the
sparrow is put, he stays as long as he can
find food, and as the generations increase
they spread abroad, taking up their abode
in every town, village and city-everywhere
they find habitation of man, and there
they reside all the year round. The spar
row will eat almost every thing that can be
eaten by bird. When he has stripped the
trees of cacoons, eggs and insect larva gen
orally, which he prefers to all other food,
if you do not feed him he will procure his
living from the droppings of the streets.
The sparrows are charged with being
quarrelsome, and when they become strong
or numerous enough, they drive out all
other birds. This is a serious charge, but
they are like all other industrious animals
man not excepted-they want the whole
field to themselves, and will do more work.
it is probable, for the farmer, than all other
birds combined by devouring insects, and
| by this good work, save more of his crops
from the ravages of insect enemies than
they rob him of to satisfy their hunger.