, 1877-02-17
ENGLISH sPARROWS.
An Addition to The Air-Fauna of illinois,.
Their Protection,
n Lac Eiiiof nt ThA Ifihnne.

An Addition to The Air.Fauna Of 11ltnols---
Their Protection.
70 the Editor Of 1ne Tribune.
SANDWICH, ILL.,, Feb. a--Tht birds OF our
country nre not only attracting Increasing inter.
est "a obIects Of study and classification BY nat
uraaists, but arc beginning n bo recognized as
Indispensable agents In checking tho enormous
increase Of the numerous species OF noxfous IT.
sccts. In this interesting field Of Natural 11is-
tory, tho masses, owing to the rapid increaso Of
knowledge In this direction, are commencing to
understand and appreciate the rcal value OF
birds ID tho economy ofNaturc. Agdculturtsts
and hortleulturists arc also beginning to discern
In them their best friends. Aspub1tc sentiment
strengthens In favor Of these agents, which Prov
i1ence has 60 kindly adaptcd and qualified, by
diversity Of structure, for tho destruction Of
the different tribes Of insects known to live
upon grain, fruit, and other products Of the
soil, wc confidently expect that eacl, State OF
tho Union wilt 50 protect them ly legislative
cuactnents that op-fatlures wilt become less
appalling to tho tillcrs Of the soil. The Amer
ican people hare given very tardy assent to tho
value OF inscctfyurous birds as powerful rem
ely iur rldding our fields, gardens, and orchards
Vt tho main hisdsance TO rc1nunerasiye returns
1 enSns asSa e pi1s 1s % e .e %s m
abnormal increase Of insects that thrive 10 fam
lilies upon oyeFy known product of the soil.
Peter the Great, Gear Of Russia, Who fUstcred
every industry. THO mochanl: arts, agriculture.
and horticulture, by tlret learning nearly every
useful trade himself In tho countries Of Europe.
wns particularly delighted with gardening and
ba s s1. 10 nae esE ..
each year: whcFeupou he ordered tho general
destruction OF such M were known TO cat this
fruit. u so fell out that the cherry-crop soon
failed altogether: Peter. being q shrew4 man,
entirely roobing him Ut fruit for which ha
had an especial fonduess. He at oncc Issued q
royal decree for tho protection Of every species
Of nras ~ hts n%rc and soon
Of tlls most esteemed and healtli-E!ving luxury.
One object Of this communication 10 the an
nouncemcnt Of the quite general diffusion Of
s neoSs k%s q o hasnE bdsn sf9 %
the beautiful parks OF some Of our citiest they
have sirayed nors or loss Into tho rural dis
trIcts. They arc very sclate little wallis, indus
ssS' y 1s n seasFpFnf os1 1ss asa NH ss Ss e!o
and there, seeking :, their ,daiiy food
tired IN uniform but so,bre costume, very like
sta|d English folk, ~ they arc; We heartily
Due-Jay {Cvanura cre,tata), Chiekadee (f'arus
Falmstrls), and snow-Buntlng {{'lectroihdn.s
Nisialis) company through tho long, bleak win
The sparrows and other Of our birds wcro
we'll known In Oriental countries many conturfee
pgp, Frequent alluslon8 arc male to them Ia
the Rtble,-in tho Palms aud tn the New festa-
ment,-ln many touching and beautiful figures
bath found au house, aud the swallow O. nest for
horsclf" England's greatest poet, Shakespeare.
touchingly nllllles to tic Sparrow and Raven al
being fed b tSs ~ fstasrs Az .1 aa a9.n.
Yea. pfEdently caters Tor tlid sparrow,
De comfort 10 my ago.
1t Is q beautiful ctstotn Of the Norscmcn, and
worthy of universal imitation, that, as soon as
the church-bclls have "Eung In The fcast," at
house takea bis plumpest mud richest aheaf Of
oats Or barley and Ties Il to tho end Of pole,
barn or atorehousc. Tho birds, conscious Of tho
fcast the good farmer Inns prepared for them,
fit about the generous Tepast, eattnE and ehtrp-
lng.-the mother aud children looking alprov-
children Of Gods caro- even Of tho little spar
Providence having, kindly directed The
spasto" ts to om5 sees let er ua eorea. 5aa
near our dwellings, similar to thosc We, build
for the migratory birds that come to gladden.
the early days Of spring and to tarry with Us
until autun,n-daye. little boxes lined With
make them our comuanlons through tho dscary
wlnter-scaaon, In which so fow species can aus
tain themselves on account Of Rcanttncss OF
food: For the small outlay In boxes. ard scat
many-fold iu s!ddtug US Of moths, aplides, and
other 1loxious insects which infcst our fields md
garlcns for no other purpose than to destroy,
es ysa III s :, our ntee
tHtsu'Ds tl,sy MY inseease inRi II such numscTs
that then they may become strong enough to
maintain the balance Of power over The niYrlads
f.zr &h,nk