Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-08


THE SPARROW CONTROVERSY.
Some Interesting Facts Bearing Upon
tho Question.
| To the Editor Of TIE EVENING STAB:
Although have thus far refrained from TAX
Ing part in the local sparrow controversy, have
followed it with great interest, for it is matter
which is Of no small Importance to ornitholo-
gists, as well as to the public in general. Iwell
remember the time when the European house
sparrow was first brought to Washington and
the trip that made to the White House
grounds for the purpose Of inspecting the small
| flock which had been liberated there. Having
since then been constant resident of the city,
the habits and general characteristics Of the
bird in question have been a subject of daily
| observation and study; and, being fully per-
| suaded that in the controversy which has been
| carried on mistakes have been made on both
Sides may perhaps be pardoned for offering
some pertinent deductions from my experience.
| The enemies of the sparrow have. with few
exceptions, committed what to me appear to
| be two important errors which. being at once
seized upon by their opponents as weak point
In their statement Of the case, have thus fur
nished grounds for controversy which has
|
gently considered and weighed without preju-
dice. These errors are % the assertion that the
Imported sparrow is an extremely pugnaciOus
bird in its relations with native species, and ca
the assumption that it does not eat insects.
Upon these two propositions, mainly, the con-
| trOversy, as hitherto conducted hinges; and
until the tactics of the aEti-sparrow side are
changed, well grounded opposition may be ex
pected frOUl the other side.
Assuming that in direct proportion to it's in
crease the sparrow has to great extent dis
placed most native species from the public and
| private grounds of this and other cities (and
do not see how this fact can be contrOvertedD,
! it must occur to every careful observer that the
| latter have not been driven out, SO much as
| crO,cded out.
| THE NATIVE SONG SPARROW
Ga bird In every respect, except in point Of num-
bers, the peer OF, and, In most qualities, infin-
itey superior to. the imported bird) ia, accord
| ing to my experience, better able to maintain a
| foothod in it's old haunts than any other, and,
| therefore. its blithe song may yet be OCCASION
ally heard in our larger parks. Though smaller
bird this species permits no aggression or inter-
| ference from the interlOper. / once saw single
song sparrow drive two house sparrOws from q
piece OF bread they were pecking (the remains
of some ones lunch thrown on the grass. and
without the least trouble prevent half dozen
or more hungry individuals of the foreign spe-
cies from partaking of the feast until it's own
of the latter would drop down near the coveted
morsel, upon which the bird in possession would
| instantly face about, and with game-cOck-like
rush cause the other to beat q precipitate re-
treat. From window near by witnessed this
little episode, and with much surprise observed
that, although in the immediate neighbOrhOOd
of a stronghold of the sparrows (the ivy which
once adorned the east end of the Smithsonian
bullding), the song sparrow remained in posses
sion until his needs were satisfied, when he flew
q nv n No forth
little song. as if in thankfulness for the meal he
had just enjoyed. The numerous sparrows
which had been compelled to stand aloof then
flew down in body, and soon demolished the
remaining portions Of the repast. The song
sparrow builds its nest in thick bushes, near
the ground. or in the tall grass and weeds, and
ls therefore, not subjected to the unequal con-
test for nesting sites for which the tree-nesting
species have to contend.
THE SPARROW AS A CLAIM-JUMPER.
That the imported sparrow does, however,
take undue advantage over the weaker native
| species have had abundant opportunities to
observe. One incident in particular will Illus
trate this tendency in its character and also the
amount OF cunning which is equally its charac-
terstic A pair of house wrens had selected
one of the numerous boxes put up specially for
the benefit of the sparrOws o. and Immediately
began the construction of their nest therein
The wren builds very bulky nest. therefore the
pair worked hard for nearly two weeks before
sufficient amount of material was carried in NV
| route to and from meals passing by the tree Ga
cypress) which contained this box, l took great
interest in noting the progress the sprighty lit
tie fellows were making In their domestic affairs
and listened with delight to the merry. rollick-
ing MARBLE of the male, who sang in great gIee
while his mate was arranging the details OF their
dOmicie. But one morning l was both sur
prised and grieved to find that. as would be said
in western parlance their claim had been
linn hNy ~
owners were making great fuss. and continued
their efforts to regain possession for week or
more, but all to no purpose, for the female spar
row sat inside. with her strong bill prOtrudng
while the male stood guard just outside. It
certainly appeared as If the sparrOws, whom l
had previously noticed daily In tulip tree Just
across the walk, - apparently oblivious to the
presence Of the wrens-had purposely allowed
the latter to toll without molestation until their
nest was finished in order that thev might save
themselves the labor!
From statements which cannot be gainsayed,
and also from my own observations, / am salts
fled that the imported sparrows do destroy a
certain number of insects, especially while feed
ing their young At the same time however it
is evident that insects constitute very small
proportion of their fOOd-certainly not at any
season One-tenth part of all that they eat And
right here should be considered fact which
cannot be disputed: The wren and purple mar
tin, two species which suffer most from the
presence of the sparrow. eat absolttety nottino
but insects; and notwithstanding their vastly
inferior numbers believe that the quantity Of
insects they destroy is incomparably greater.
To put the matter still stronger i believe that
one wren or martin will destroy more insects in
single day than sparrow will in weeks or
months The bluebird also, which feeds almost
exclusively upon insects-poke-berries in the
fall constituting about the only variation in his
diets compelled to retire before the aggres-
sive sparrow. There are undoubtedly a few
cases where the three species have mentioned
still retain q foothold in the sparrow's presence;
but from observation am fully satisfied that
these cases can be accounted for by exceptional
and transient circumstances.
THE SPARROW NOT CITY BIRD.
Having explained what to me appear errors
on the part of the anti-sparrow party will now
proceed to discuss two equally palpable mis-
statements frequently made by those who de-
lend the bird In question: viz: % that the i'm