The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-06-06
The English Sparrow.

No EsllElSu NpeIAAo"'
Mr.. JOHN CALVIN, "Forcster" OF the
city of Boston, makes quite defence Tor
the English sparrow. In letter to a gem
Itleman who asks what he knows about the
sparrow, he says:
I am and have been familiar with the
habits Of the sparrow, even before the'r
introduction. Since their coming to Boston
nv duties aud those of my men have given
us constant opportunities to notice what
they do. Their introduction into Boston
was Immediately attended with great benefit,
almost beyond all calculation. The trees
ON the Common were infested with nasty
yellow caterpillar which destroyed the
leaves and buds of the elms and other trees
and these insects increased very rapidly, IN
spite OF all that my men could do to destroy
them, And. at the South End, the elm
trees were eaten every June by sWarms OF
cankel-worms. Both OF these pests have
been pretty nearly exterminated, and the
trees, many of which would otherwise have
died, have been saved.
The sparrow is still OF great use. But
for il these insects would return, and other
pests would attack the trees. Last spring
lST6) the buds OF many OF the larger elms,
as they were opening, were attacked by 4
great many OF a small kind of lice. The
Sparrows soon found them out and ate them
greedly. Consequently the foliage, instead
OF drying up, as it would have done but for
the Sparrows, was never finer. My men
could do nothing. They had no wings like
the sparrow, who could cling to the buds
and clean them one by one. Yet for all the
good the sparrows were doing there were
some so preiudiced against it and who can
see no good, but only harm in everything it
does, who raised hue and cry that the
sparrows were eating the buds Instead OF
that they were eating the bud-eaters; but
instead OF being thanked for the good they
were doing they were only abused. / be-
| leve that the wages OF all my men would
not compensate Boston for the loss Of the
sparrow.
1 say, without hesitation, that the spar
rows do not modest or interfere with any
other bird. It does not trouble the robin
or bluebird, or manifest any animosity
against either. ALI summer long they are
together, and it would be impossible for
this to be done without my men or no
| ticing it. vet never witnessed anything Of
the kind. %@s a
| I have not noticed any decrease in the
numbers of any kind of bird, but, on the
contrary, very marked increase OF various
kinds. The robins were more numerous
on the Common last summer than ever be-
fore. The little ,chip-sparrow has become
very numerous, and seems to be very fond
OF the sparrow, often feeding on the same
bit OF bread. The small martins have very
| greatly increased in numbers on account OF
the number Of boxes. These they have
taken possession Of whenever they want
one, and drive the sparrows away. Before
the sparrows came there were no bluebirds
4 II To
mon, and often treat the sparrows very
and breaking up their nests. The sparrows
OF course show fight, but The bluebrds are
always too strong for them.
. am all in favor Of the sparroWs. l be-
lieve that they do no BARN, but great. deal
of good. Thousands OF dollars would not
pay the city for their loss. and I would be
very sorry to see anything doneto prejudice
people against them or permit their destruc-
ton. JOHN CALVIN, Superintendent.
A gentleman Of Brooklyn, whom the For
est and Stream knows to be ga close and
kindly observer" insists that the sparrows
.sdo not drive away other BIRDS" and bears
testimony to their usefulness in cleaning the
trees Of pests.
| Ou GuC AZ LVF
est and Stream, writing from indianapolis,
contends that the sparrow has made no i'm
preston upon caterpillars and millers, calls
them scavengers eating the ofal in the
street, and such; and he says that he is in
favor of utilizing them as they do in France,
"where they are sold by the peck for pot
pie" Well, that is good! .
We are Of opinion that the sparrow does
break up the ravages Of worms upon the
elm and linden trees. This has been proved
in our Capitol Square. AS to their driving
away other birds we have seen no proof,
though many persons assert that they do.
About their destroying fruit, and tomatoes,
and seeds, the testimony in this region is
strong.
The subject is interesting to farmers and
gardeners, and accurate observations about
the sparrow would be valuable.