Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-27

Every day or two We find something in
some of our exchanges telling how bad IL
little fellow the English sparrow is These
items commenced in the city papers first and
have run SO swift that they have spread over
the country faster than the birds. In fact
the sparrow is not migratory bird. He goes
wherever he is carried or pushed, making n
journey of but very few miles except when
he is taken as q prisoner. A few years ago
half dozen were brought to the farm of j. ii.
Nevin, above this city, where they remained
till winter and then came into the city, where
they have multiplied until they have now in
creased to several numerous colonies. From
the many denunciatory articles we have read,
we have closely observed the habits and con-
duct of those here and find that instead OF
being a naughty, quarrelsome, belligerent
bird, the sparrow is q tractable, neighborly
little fellow. and this, taken with the fact
that he is the only bird except the domesti-
Gated fowls who stand by us summer and
winter, through burning sunshine and Arctic
frosts, endeavoring to make, by his presence,
the toughest times pleasant, entities him to
our respect. We have been told that he has
driven out, wherever he has been taken, all
other kinds OF birds; that the robin. the blue
bird, the swallow and the oriole, and other
feathered songsters have been exterminated
by him. From actual observation we are
prepared to say all such charges are SANDER
ous He has been here four years, and all
other kinds Of birds are rs numerous as they
ever were. Our city, at the present moment,
is filled with robins. They have just return
ed from their southern trip and, Judging
from their morning and evening songs, feel
eloriously glad for having got back. Any
early riser will tell you that the robin and tho
-t,,a,- ha gttt hA
branch any morning, in close proximity,
tuning their voices to greet the rising sun.
They appear to be as glad to see and hear
each other as unfeathered bipeds, and are
great deal more social. The orioles are in
creasing with each year, and where but one
was seen few years ago hundred are seen
now. Swallows and martins are also more
numerous. and the same may be said of other
birds.
Twenty-Five years ago We remember to
have read in the New York Evening i'oSi of
the ravages to the foliage uf tie shade trees
in the city streets and parks from caterpil-
lars. II was feared that all of them would he
destroyed, and i'll order to exterminate the
pests an importation of sparrows from Eng
land was recommended. So the sparrow was
caught and brought across the ocean. He
has done his work, not only for New York.
wherever he has been taken. If every or
chardist had n colony ofsparrows they would
soon have no further trouble from caterpil-
lars, which are gradually but surely killing
their best trees.
Sparrows multiply rapidly. bringing out
four or five clutches each year. They are
brave and courageous, defending their nests
with their lives if necessary. The only thing
that can be said against them, ut all deroSa-
tory, is that they are vehemently noisy. The
lazy man, who wants to tarry in bed IN the
morning and sleep the best hours of his life
away will probably be disturbed, il his doIni-
ell Is III close proximity to colony OF spar
rows. No others, who have studied their
habits and understand their usefulness, Will
complain against them.
Before you condemn the sparrow look him
over carefully and critically. Remember
that lie voluntarily remains with us through
all the bleak winter, sticking 1t out when the
mercury is below zero; that he docs not steal
your fruit or grain, but feeds on the enemies
of vegetation, and give him chance. His
chatter we can endure better than We can t-
ford his nlSeuca -I I,uisl Sl,ifyy ,IHUyiui