The Portland daily press., 1886-11-19
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.J

1t is evident that within the last decade
the sparrows have been very active in col
onizing this State, and that within the last
five years their spread has been very rapid
indeed. And wherever they have once
gained foothold, their increase has gener
ally been remarkable. And in most places
where they are numerous it Is observed that
they are regarded as nuisances. They are
great fighters, generally among themselves
II there is no enemy near There is COM
plant in Lewiston that they are driving out
the purple martin, the white-bellied spar
row, the bluebird and the wren; in Bruns-
WICK 1t has been noticed that other sparrows
aid bluebirds are forced to leave. Nearly
every village has some story of their aggres-
sions.
whether the English sparrow does any
considerable amount of good as
DESTROYER OF NoxIoUs INSECTS
thereis diversity of opinion. In Sanford
some observers think that he DESTROYS cater
pillars such as infest apple trees; in Frye
burg it is thought that they kill lice as well
as caterpillars; but generally much less is
SAID about their appetite for noxious insects
than about their liking for grain and fruits.
In Lewiston the gardeners complain that the
English sparrow is altogether too fond of
peas, and that while he may feed his young
with insects, he himself prefers the farm
er's grain; in Waterville it is thought that
they like oats when they are in the milk,
and they are suspected of fondncss for
grapes; in Sanford complaint Is made that
they injure pears and peaches But in gen.
eral it may be said that, except in the larger
cities where he has been the longest, he has
not attracted serious attention, either as a
killer of noxious insects or a DESTROYER of
fruits or grains.
There is more complaint of their filthy
ways at their nesting places about buildings
and of their wars on other birds.
THE BLOOD OF CoNQUERoRs.
That they have the blood of conauerors
there is no doubt. In every hamlet where
they have appeared there are anecdotes of
their fights In Lewiston they are regarded
as such notorious filibusters that people
close up their martin houses every winter:
for If the sparrows once get possession the
martins cannot dislodge them.
AT Waterville, a short time ago. the caves
swallows commenced building under the
caves of Coburn Hall, at the colleges. In
the course of two weeks one nest was COM
pleted and the occupants settled down to
housekeeping; but scarcely day had elapsed
when the sparrows waged battle and easily
drove off the rightful owners. This fright
ened the rest of the swallows that had COM
menced to build, and not one after that
showed himself about the locality.
In Sanford, about dozen years ago. Mr..
Thop,ac GnOdoll had n e
placed in each of dozen trees about his
residence. These houses were soon inhabit-
ed by our native birds, which lived together
in great contentment until the arrival of the
English sparrows. Then
A WAR ENsUED,
which resulted in the total defeat, eviction
and hurried migration of the old possessors.
and the installation of the conquerors in
their places.
A Massachusetts lady, who lives in Somer-
vile, tells of seeing the sparrows fighting
with robins, evidently with the intention of
driving them away, and now robins, orioles,
ground sparrows, and in fact all the other
native small birds are very rarely seen
around Somerville.
One who has observed them in London.
EuSiuhu, lcldlcS budt t06lr curious nests at
tain the size of bushel baskets and are perched
on houses and in trees.
Various methods are suggested to stay the
progress of the little bucchaneers. One gem
tleman in this city has suggested that the
schools be let out and each child be fur
nished with shot gun Another in Bruins
wick suggests that receipts for sparrow pie
be published in the papers; third in South |
Berwick, thinks the ladies might be induced |
to wear the sparrow's plumage on their hats; |
while others think that the Legislature |
should be called on, either to take the Eng
lish sparrow off the list of protected birds or |
to offer bounty for the destruction of the |
birds and the demolition of their nests. 1t |
is said in Lewiston that the butcher bird de- |
stroys number of them each winter. and in |
South Berwick cats are credited with con-
siderable inroads into the focks A gentle |
man in this city suggests, as feasible way |
of thinning out the flocks, that the lawi pro-
tecting birds be repealed in the case of the
sparrows, and that sportsmen use them in |
shooting traps as pigeons have been used.
The sharing of them, he says, would furnish
occupation and revenue to small boys, while
the numbers required by sportsman would
leave the flocks in the streets diminished to
a very desirable extent.