Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-02-25
FIELD AND FlRESiDE.
AccIimating British Songsters.

In the February number of the Familiar
Science and Ianc;ers' Journal, a contribu-
tor refers to previous article by Mr.. V. NJ.
Firor, of this place, and writes as follows,
under the above CAPTION:
In October number of the Journal, no.
tice your correspondent, V. NJ. F., advocates
the introduction of European song birds
Most Americans who have travelled in Eu,
rope during spring and summer, have been
greatly delighted with the melody of the
many delightful songsters that are heard in
every direction, night and day, not only in
the garden and wood, but in every piece OF
sedgc, marsh, heath or moor This continual
song leaves a lasting impression on the sensi.
bil!ties and memory, never to be forgotten.
But to what depth, down in the heart is
this impression left on those who, in early
childhood, were lulled By such sweet melody.
Is it to be wondered at, that many desire to
hear the same carols 20 greet the early sun,
on this continent, as the lark does in the
old-risTug so high that the sun shines Cd
him at the same time it gilds the tins Of the
distant hills, and feeds him with new life and
streug;h-betore he shines on tho level
world below. Some efforts have been made
in this direction, years ago, at much expense
aud trouble, with but little success. Being in
possession of q few facts in regard to such
introduction OF European eongsters, take
the liberty Of laying them before your read,
ers as we'll as your cores pendent, V. NJ. r
About fUrty years ago 4 number of sky
lnrks were liberated on Long Island and, to
the delight Of many people, they kept on in
creasing 10 numbers aud this so encouraged
a gentleman living in Brooklyn that he went
10 England in 1852. and collected number
r., IL,
wood cemetery, which was then all sur
rounded by country. The advice of William
Kidd was solicited, who was editor of kia,l's
Oton Jox5muI-a journal ike your own, de-
voted to natural history, and published at
Hammersmith, near London, England In
volume ID, under date November 6, 1852,
this correspondent, signing Il. S W. opens
the correspondence, which is carried on into
the next volume. y brother Of this gentle
man is etill living, to whom | am indebted
fer this information. The birds left England
in tho Europa" November 1888, under
charge of I. S. W, and consisted of forty-
eight sky-larks. twenty-four wood larks,
forty eight gOld-iaches, twenty four robins,
Cred breasts twelve blackbirds and twelve
,hrushes-sezes about equal. When they
arrived in New York, the weather was very
severe; some died on the voyage, and balance
were taken to room prepared for them in
the cemetery. This proved too cold, SO that
they had to be Gagged and cared for till the
goth of April, when they were liberated in
the cemetery, but the numbers wore reduced
to eight sky-larks, sixteen gold>fnches seven
blackblrds. two thrushcs and two siskiDs
robins all died in winter. Tho enclosure of
the cemetery was three hundred acres, all
beautifully adapted for the experiment at that
time; the cagea were stood opened in the
middle OF the grounds, and the birds were
seen ell that summer. A special act Of the
State legislature vas passed to protect them
entitled, t'Act for the protection Of birds in
ihe public cemeteries" and it became Law
Oh the 1lth of August--forbidding the kill
ing, wourd;ng or trapping of any bird within
any cemetery OF public ground or removing
eggs or nests. or buying or selling such birds
making such act a m!sdGmeanOr punish
able by foe Of five dollars for every offence.
Shortly alter, all the birds disappeared
probably hunted out, as have been the sky>
lark since. Several things are suggested by
this experiment first, the birds should have
arrived in spring secondly, they should
have been liberated further of large city:
and | should think that such birds as mi.
Crate 90 the other side would be better
suited to our birds-the insectiyorous birds
SIS your correspondent, V. NJ. f., men,
tions the red start. stone chat, win-chat,
also others, as the white throat nightingale,
etc. These birds would probably keep up
their natural propensity to migrate south.
ward in winter. GoIdfnches, thrus' os and
blsckbirds, being all the year residents in
Britain, they are more likely to be killed by
cold winters. Some 0: the finch tribe
might succeed. as the linnct often migratcs
Hoping this may awaken some interest on
the subject and give some hints in the dircc-