The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-19

The first appearance Of these birds In Ban
g0r, In any numbers was In the winter Of
1873, since which time they have steadily In
creased, until at present there are thousands
OF them In the vicinity. / am Informed that
some years previous TO 1879 a gentlemen re-
leased lew pairs here, and II may be that
We are INDEBTED 70 him for our present boun-
tlful supply. The effect Of the advent Of
these foreigners upon our native birds Is
most direct and more plainly seen in the case
Of those species whose breeding habits are
similar to those Of the sparrow; and In the
war for the possession Of breeding quarters
ard desirable nesting sites which naturally
ioilows, our native birds 20 to the wall be-
lore the pugnacious John Bull; and as a re-
suit are driven from the localities frequented
Dy tne iatIer. Two examples Of this class
VIII su1nee. That well known observer OF
nature and agreeable writer, Thoreau, In his
Maine Woods" states as q remarkable fact
that while the blue bird Is common In other
parts OF Maine, II Is practically unknown In
the vicinity Of Bangor.
THE BLUE BIRD PACKS MS GRIP.
His statement is a true one, for until about
ten years ago i had never seen Dlue Dird IN
the vicinity Of this city, while In western
Maine and southern New England they
we're common. About ten years ago.
however, the English sparrow began 10
extend its range in Massachusetts, CON-
pelling the blue birds TO relinquish
their old homes In post holes or hollow trees
and causing them 10 search for new homes
Then II was that this bright harbinger Of
spring began 10 appear here and wear by
year they have increased In number a. they
lied from their petty tyrants. For the pres
ence OF these bright forms, and for this alone.
we nave 10 thank the ever pursuing sparrow;
put as tne sparrow scOurge increases the blue
birds VIII again be forced 10 seek new quar-
ters, and we shall look for them In vain
THE HOUSE WREN ALSO DEPARTS.
The house wren Is another one OF the most
interesting birds that has been obliged 10
give way TO the more powerful and all con-
quering rivals. These minute speeks Of bird
life have the misfortune 10 build their nests
and rear their young In situations that are
Obliged TO move on. For many years
up TO and including 1879, pair
OF these wrens built their nest reg
nlarly In a box had provided for their
use, In my garden, aud many others nested
about our city, and by their CHEEKY song and
bright, vivaciOus ways made many friends.
but since 1879 can find no record OF their
appearance here, for at this very time the
sparrow appeared In force and crushed them
out Both the blue bird and wren are dis
tnetiyely insectivor0us and are very bene-
heial TO the agriculturalist. while the spar
row IS not insectiyor0us. and the occasional
insect that he kills he may perhaps destroy
out OF pure cruelty, and to cater TO his pug
naciOus Instincts.
THE sPARRow's BAD NAME.
In 1884 II was my pleasure TO meet gem
tleman from New Zealand. and In CONVEX
sation he referred TO the fact that some years
ago the English sparrow was introduced into
the island together with the lark and other
creased 70 snch an extent that It was almost
Impossible TO save their crops from these de
strOyers. as they would swoop down ON
hela IN countless numbers and completely
strip II. To abate this evil many ways were
tried, but in vain-the gun and net were use
less againstssuch hordes, and poison was tried
with more success; but the result was, on
some accounts deplorable; for on the hill-
sides were found the dead bodies Of other
birds that they could i'll afford TO lose. and
which by their habits would never become
pests.
BANGOR HOUSEHOLDER IN TROUBLE.
A gentleman in this city came to me few
years ago 10 inquire how he could protect his
garden from these sparrows, as he said they
him he could not hope for remedy unless
heroic treatment were applied, and then the
treatment must be general In order 10 be OF
any lasting benefit. Well, he applied the
lreathent tocduy, ana he reported fair re-
suits, so FAR as his nel2hborhOod was con-
eerned. Another cause Of complaint Is made
against these birds In the larger cities, where
they have lived for long time They built
tnelr nests In the hooks and crannies about
residences and occupy the same sites for
years. IL is claimed that these old nests be-
come foul and a breeding place for lice and
other vermin which find their way into the
houses and make their presence manifest In
no uncertain Way. do not v0uch for the
justice OF this accusation but the Thought
= not very pleasant one. and certain IL
Dor.
The people Of Bangor do not as a rule fully
appreciate the possibilities of this AFGHAN Of
the streets, but with the present rate Of in
crease they will ere long, II the nuisance
Is not suppressed.
DUTY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
In order to suppress them the legislative
enactment which protects them, as well as
our native birds, must first be removed
Ihis done, the rest think could be accom-
plished, IN our State at least, but not by guns,
or seare-crOws. Sparr0ws will build their
nests In the pockets and laugh in the sleeves
OF the best scare-crow that the ingenuity Of
man can devise.
Inswinter the sparrows are very gregarious
and ioeks together in the cities from all
quarters.
At this season plentiful distribution Of
poisoned grain can be administered with GER
tain results Tor our native birds are spend
Ing this fashionable season in the south and
cannot be harmed; no injury would be done
20 anything except the sparrow, and possi-
Diy lew doves, and these latter could prob
ably be saved BY a little care.
This method am sure, would have a hem
enclal result, and Is open to US from our geo
graphical position, while farther south the
result would be dangerous to our native
Let our commissioners Of game join hands
with the committee Of agriculture and repeal
the protection now afforded these English
sparTows,, and then by concerted action In
afflicted districts, apply the remedy. Then
we may hope to have the blue bird always
with us, and the wren and other birds will
return and aid the farmer in keeping down
the insect Zoe to agriculture, besides eaeer-
ing US with their presence. This Is a con
summation devoutly to be wished, and let us
remember that stitch in time saves nine.
In closing, | would quote from our most
eminent ornithologist, DIR. Elliot Cones. He
says:
lmpor ed during a Icraze, which even affected
some ornlthologsts, making people fancy that
sraniyorous, eVnrostral bird wonld rid US Of In
sectpesis this sturdy and lnvinclble little bird
sanee, without a redeeming quality Well inform
cd persons denounced the bird without avail dur
further protest is futile for the sparrows have ii
all their own way, and can afford to laugh at legs-
lAtures, IKE rats, mice, cockroaches and other
ported"
FROM KTrrERY TO FORT KENT.
The complaints which are made in Port
land and Bangor against these pugnacious
little birds,are made quite generally through
out the State. They have not penetrated into
the country regions or the very small villages
to any extent as yet. But In all the places
of any size they are already at home. They
are In York county, having:been domiciled
atSouth Berwick for seven years and at
Sanford for five years. They have been Ia
Fryeburg for about two years. To the east
ward they have been In Brunswick. some
say for ten years; in Bath they appeared
five years ago, and the same year they are
said to have appeared In Calais. Three
years ago they reached Richmond on the
kennebec, and they have been at Wateryille
for some time. In Oxford county they were
in Buckfeld on the east three years before
they appeared at Fryeburg on the west
They have penetrated into Piscataquis
county, appearing at Munson three years
ago. That same year the people Of uoulton
in Aroostook county, observed them for the
FIRST time. and on the Fifteenth day OF Octo-
Der OF this year. scarcely month ago, a
flock OF seventy-fye took possession at Fort
Kent, in the most northerly portion Of the
state. little more than dozen years have
witnessed their progress from the Piscata-
qua to the Upper St. John.
Their spread in this State has been accel-
Grated In several instances by the sfforts Of