Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-19
The English Sparrow Must Go.

From the Philadelphia Times
The recent formal and emphatic declaration
of war made by the West Chester Microscopica
Society against the English sparrow, is simply
an expression of the practically universal senti.
ment OF city and country about the little pestif-
erous bird. The English sparrow has been a
positive failure in the only virtue specially
Claimed tor it, and its Objectionable qualities are
innumerable.
After years of trial. the exact uses and abuse
of the English sparrOws have been thoroughly
tested and settled. They were introduced in
Philadelphia when the worms had taken possess
sion of our shade trees stripped them of their
foliage and made the pavements almost impas-
sable. 1t was promised and confidently expect
ed that the sparrOws would not only destroy the
worms, but also destroy their eggs deposited in
some pest; butthe sparrows have multiplied I'M
til they make every home in Philadelphia hideous
Dy their ll-tuned mOckery Of song, and deface
every beautiful building in the city. The only
other ACME vement with which they can be cred
ited, Is the driving away of the robin, the blue
bird, the wren, the native sparrow, the oriole.
and all OF the other domestic birds which are as
harmless as they are attractive.
But the city can stand the depredations ofthe
English sparrow much better than the country
IN the country they not only deface buildings,
drive the sweet-songed domestic birds away, and
make 1umbled discord with their horrid affecta-
zion OF song, but they raid upon the fields, raw
age the golden harvests. destroy the early buds
OF fruit, and make desolation widespread as they
CO. Iney have now located In nearly every city
ana village OF the eastern part Of the state, and
tnelr hardy qualities and rapid increase appall
the people when 1t is calculated what untold
millions OF them there must be In q very few
years. While their numbers are comparatively
small they can live as scayengers and bud-eate
IN the towns; but as they multiply from year to
year they must extend their raids upon the farm
ers ana the time is not distant when no grain
neld can be protected from these destroyers.
strange as 1t may seem, this fearful pest Of
city ana country Is now protected by law, and
ne VINO Kills one Is liable to punishment. The
English sparrow Is classed as an insectivorous
bird. and is protected by the law that was wisely
framed to protect the really useful and l0vable
domestic birds which add to the attractions of
every rural home. But while classed as an in
sectivorous bird, the careful investigations Of
competent inquirers have proven that the Eng
ilsl sparrows prefer stealing grain and eating
puds 20 roasting on the insects they were
brought TO destroy. Mr.. B. Henry Warren told
the whole story of the pestiferous nature Of
these birds when he stated to the West Chester
Mlcroscopicai Society that careful post NOR
tenn dissection Of five hundred Of them devel-
oped insects In nine Of them. and all the others
had feasted on grain. buds, ETC.
Inc English sparrow must 60, and the sooner
tne people OF city and country begin the work
the less costly 1t will be-