Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-03
A Farewell to the SparrOWs.
Fiat J,lStitid Rudt COeluna

~ LTW. IlOOeTt liadUNly
Dear Sir:-When first entered into the sparrow con-
troversy had further intention than to show that
Dr. Coues mistaken in his facts and you agree with
me on that point, and therefore wrong in his concu
sons. His first articles that subject led in
vestgate the truth Of his assertions and in
OF that Investigation have spent many hours in the
parks, your Smithsonian among the number, in the
| study of their tricks and their manners.
There is radical difference in our views on the
facts and am convinced that the motto nat jlstita
Will not further divide bnt there points in
your last publication that think worthy contraven
ton shall do with the more reluctance because of
the fact that ornthology speciality and that
am not an expert
The weight of European authorities have examined
is decidedly in favor of the sparrow but willing to
concede that that is not conclusive in other
Chimes and under other conditions The burden of
proof, however, is upon his opposers.
The care taken of trees by the commission ap-
pointed for that purpose will scarcely account the
dilninution of insects, the example I gave the
special efforts in behalf of the two elm west
front of the Capitol and the failure thereof sufficiently
attests 1t any doubt the inability of human effort
III that direction let him try his skill on single free
TheRrtclc in the American Naturalist to which Won re-
fer me- proves this, nothing more that the chipping
sparrow liked that sort of worm and the other did not
If, on the other hand. show. have shown least
you have not questioned it. that the European sparrow
destroys this other injurious the chrysas
state and the other does not that would he matter
of condemnation to the chipping one. They are both
performing the work they selected to do by their
methods.
You have fallen into that surprises me- in
consideration of of critical observation You
mistake the amativeness of the sparrow baigerancy
confess was. at first, of the opinion until closer
examination led me to discover that the apparent
~ hostile demonstrations nearly always took
place between the opposite sexes, and I have
often witnessed these evidences of conjugal love
with great interess. I q male bird
select what he doubtless thought choice morsel and
thrust it into the jaws Of his mate To think that
these exhibitions Of affection should be tortured into
quarrelsome disposition is enough to make the sparrow
wish he had never been born Only week ago
saw chipping sparrow feeding and docking with the
imported at Lincoln Park
One or two years since colony Of martins took forc
BILE possession and oust the sparrows from the of
the General Post Office building, and if not mis-
taken, have and read of similar disbursements
among native birds
If. You assert. there be a marked diminution of
native birds in the Smithsonian park that may be
counted for otherwise than by the of the spar
1t may be- that the sparrow being the most active
as well as the earliest bird gathers the most worms and
so leaves not enough for his letharic fellows
The presence or absence of birds in any particular
locality is marked by circumstances of comparative OBJ
scury the most usual therefore being the pres
ence absence OF food. Then in this instance if the
native birds disappear on account Of the of the
sparrow it would show that the European had lessened
the supply of food upon which the natives depended
viz WORKS. insects &c. 1t is fact however that our
native birds had deserted popuous streets before we
imported the others to fill their places and many Of US
can remember that this given for their i'm
portation. How well that duty has been performed
have previously pointed out.
Your suggestion that the introduction of the Euorpean
bird has tendency to destroy that equilibrium which
said NO wise man would disturb" by no means as
sent to- as that remains to be shown the examination
of all the facts bearing this controversy is the
main fact to be determined
know it is generally received opinion among natr-
alists that change of the habitat of vegetables
no hay,aA
ect many and notable exceptions to deprive it
Of the dignity of being rule at ALL and nothing can be
predcated with any degree of certainty upon its exis-
tence.
waited and highly priced in Europe. The cotton plant
native OF tropical countries finds its highest develop
ment in the temperate Is the United States Fish
Commission making mistake in introducing the Ger
man carp into America? The Horse! Does he disturb
that equilibrium and shall extrpate him because his
ancestors exotcs? Doubtless when the first Euro
pean set his foot these shores he dsturber
of the existing equilibrium in the minds the sayages
of America but the final result fondly believe win be
the grandest animal the world has ever produced
The methods of disturbing the balance Of nature to
which referred rather points to mans baleful pro-
pensities which find employment in DESTROYING that
which he does not understand. Such for example "A
the prolonged killing Of small birds in France where
they eagerly sought for food resulted think in the
Dhvtorerd: just as the determination Of the pnnated
grouse on our western prareS produced the domination
of the Colorado beetle Prof Agassz was once asked by
clergyman he thought the Hebrew was the original
language OF mankind His reply characteristic of
thoroughly judicial mind which hesitates at conclu-
sion until all the facts have been asceraned: I'VE are
colsting the evidences that subject and after we
have examined them ALL be able to reach concu-
son So must be in regard to the testimony involving
the usefulness uselssness of the sparrow in this
country but before arrive at adverse decision
his Opponents must be able to harmonic their facts
better than they have been able to do hitherto the
Ornithologica Convention. upon insufficient evidence
doom the sparrow to destruction, shall part from him
with regret contentng myself with the assurance that
in after years Old Mortality in rescuing his tomb
from the ravages Of time win disclose his eptaph:
"HERE LIES THE SPARROW,
Condemned to death by his foes
On suspicion that he was
CHIEFLY GRANIvERoUs;
Obvious. that he was Insectiuerous
LGrviueroIs and. Pupiueroua
a well a
Omniueroan
Resurgamw
Your, .tru1y,
ano c. Hxnne
Washington City. Nov. 1st, 1883