Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-15
THE ENGLISH SPARROW.
Tho American Ornttholoeists Un,cn Dc
Glare for Its determination


clare for Its determination.
At the meeting of the Council of the
American 0rnithologists Union, held in
Washington recently, the committee ap.
pointed III September 1888, TO inquire into
the question of tie eligibility or ineligible
ity Of the European house-sparrcw in
America, rendered its final report, which
was accepted and adopted as the sense oil
the Union on the subject The committee
sent out circular letter to over thousand
persons, ornithologists and others, and
thus obtained very full and satisfactory
evidence concerning the sparrow, and
which shows 1t TO be a most miserable
pest. The committee says:
large proportion OF the answers re-
ceived are of one import, written bv
persons having no definite data 10 commu-
nica.e, but who, having experienced an
noyance from the bird 5 uncleanliness and
unmusical notes, desire to see it exter-
minated. Under this head belong the
numerous petitions which have reached Us
from several quarters, notably from phila-
delphia The subject is regarded az
sufficiently important by the inhabitants
of that city to warrant the issue of printed
forms, which, with long lists of subscrib-
era, have been submitted to the considera-
ton of your committee.
The earliest date of importation of the
sparrow KIN wn TO us is 1858, when Thomas
A. Deblois liberated q few individuals at
Portland, Me. These disappeared shortly
afterward, and were not successfully re-
placed until 1875, In 1853 sparrows were
liberated at Peacedale, R. l., by Joseph
Peace Hazard. They were first introduced
into Central Park, New York City, accord
ing to Mr.. COnklin, the superintendent of
the uenageric, in the year 1864. In 1860
Eugene Shiotfiin turned loose twelve birds
in Madison Square, New York City In
1868 the species was first introduced into
Boston Common. In 1869 a number were
given the liberty Of the parks of Philadel-
pnia. Somewhat later a successful attempt
was made TO establish q colony near Great
Salt Lake, Utah, and about the same time
the birds became resident at Indianapolis,
Ind.
In 3 period of about ten years the spar
rows reached nearly all the large towns
and cities Of New England and the Middle
States, and many Of those of the Western
States, without artificial assistance. 1t
also made It's appearance in suburban
towns and country villages. From the
Southern States and the Western States
beyond the Mississippi river We have re-
Ceivsd but few returns, and most of these
state that the sparrow has not been OBJ
served. In Canada it has become generally
distributed over the southern sections of
Quebec and Ontario [t is abundant in the
city of Quebec, and in 1884 several focks
invaded New Brunswick.
Few observers have definitely deter
mined the number of broods matched year
ly by this bird, and the number OF Young
to the brood. We have, however, returns
from several ornithologists. The maximum
given by Mr.. II. b. Bailey, of Orange, New
Iersey-sIx broOds in one season, with
rrcm four to FIVE young in a hrood-proba-
bly, indicates the extent of the bird s fertili-
ty in this climate. The usual number of
broods i'll the latitude of New York ard
southwark appears to be four. In more
northern districts, three broods yearly
would probably be near the average
There is an overwhelming mass of testi-
mony 10 the effect that the sparrow molests
and drives away certain of our most
valued species of native birds. Many state
ments have been received giving accounts
of conflicts provoked by the sparrow in
which it was cruelty victorious. II is
affirmed that from some localities native
species have been completely bsnished by
the attacks or by the mere presence of the
foreigner. We have also evidence of an
opposite character, declaring the sparrow's
peaceable disposition and its association
upon amicable terms with other species of
birds.
Most Of our correspondents state that
they have never known the sparrow to
commit depredations upon crops, but we'll
authenticated instances are furnished
showing its ability and disposition to &C.
conlpGsh great destruction to grain Mr.
Stewart, Of Hackensack, New Jersey, re-
lates the destruction of large margin Of
wheat in the field. Hon. G. A Bicknell, of
New Albany, Indiana, says: When the
grain ripens the spaTrows leave the city
and attack the wheat fields in the suburbs.
have seen hundreds of them at once in
my fields, and they got about half the
crop Mr.. t. G.. Gentry, in his exhaustive
work on the sparrow, gives similar i'll
stances. That the bird feeds upon fruits is
amply attested.
The experiment has recently been tried
in Philadelphia and elsewhere of substi-
tuting sparrows for pigeons in trap-shoot-
ing, but OF course without seriously dimin-
ishing their numbers. In other localities
the birds have been poisoned or otherwise
gotten rid of to some extent by indignant
citizens in defiance OF laws.
The balance of public opinion is strongly
adverse to the sparrows. Our returns,
however show protective laws usually the
same statute which provides for the secu.
rity of other small birds) in Maine New
Hampshire, Vermont Rhode Island New
York, New Jersey, Ohio, the District of
Columbia and Canada. The law in Massa-
chusetts and Michigan has lately been re-
pealed, and specially cxempts the English
sparrow from protection.
We have learned the CAPACITY and disno
sition of this bird to injure grain and fruits,
ard that when gathered in large numbers
1t threatens very seriously the interests of
the farmer and hoticulturiSt Although
testimony of a certain kind indicates that
its young are fed with insects, actual dis
section shows that vegetable substances are
mainly employed. The adult birds feed
almost exclusively upon seeds and grains.
They drive away from their accustomed
haunts, either directly or indirectly, many
of our native insectivorous species. 1t may
be added that they have proved in recent
years so destructive of crops in other coun-
tries as to render it necessary to enact laws
looking to their determination. In view of
these facts, your committee believes that the
European sparrow Pnsser domeSttc,ls) is an
ineligible species in this country, and that
1t was mistaken policy to introduce the
bird. And we would respectfully recon-
mend:
o. That the sheltering or otherwise fos-
tering the sparrow by the public be dis
couraged, and that its Introduction artilici-
ally into new localities, and its sale for such
purposes, be forbidden by law.
~ That all existing laws protecting the
sparrow be repealed, and that bountics be
offered for its destruction.
Signed: J. B. Holder (Chairman), En-
gene P Bickuell, H. A. Purdie, Nathan
Clifford Brown. Montague Chamberlain.
BeneyoIent Old Man.
Just as evening was closing in, a curly