Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-13

sun-~rcr. tn, m"rkrng bird or t" be- more
definite tn. Minus Pulyrluttu- The
Telegraph first called attention t, the sub
jrct. and / -,.,' II" reason =" doubt that the
theory then advanced :" account for the
growing scarcity IT the ir!- was and Is a
true one. tn" reason z 'rn wHS the nm
checked slaughter "i thu birds by negro
~sp"rrsmen. and the destruction or cap
tUrr Of their Young from waH'"unr~- "r
desire for gain. The theory has been com
hated. II Is stated by some that the Eng
lieh sparrow i driving out th" singers
by Others that the destruction "f the Tor
ests has something {" du with the evil II
is even suggested that hurricanes may he
the real cause. None ut these theories
will stand the test The English sparrow
can not in fact u" hir! can. drive ont III"
Knockers. VIII" belong t" "A game and bel
llgrrcnt family. The common muCklnG
bird VIII attack dog. cats, hawks. crows,
and huLZdr'l~ when hey inv hir his range.
and have never known one ut them T."
give up the contest He l. not forest
bird, but Of the lc'd~. He prefers an open
situation and the haunts Of men. The
orchard hedge. solitary haw bush,
where ne has p uty "i sunlight ami
breadth of view. ultS him best. And 1t -
in the frldS and "rrhari~ that he hnd@
food. OF all II SIS his Is probably the
most carefully ruut, and little trouble i
taken to conceal il. He seems I" feel that
his song is the price Of security, and tins
mistak" Is fast playing havoc with hun.
DE~TErcrIuN RY >ErEn Hr>rFEs
Up To- emancipation times. or rather the
close "f the war, m"cking birds w"r"
plentiful every where IA 'rr"r-iL Dur
ing the years that followed freedom armed
race 10 whom guns had been Forbidden
The uegr" brran" an "TfhuSliHuc hunter,
but b. was unNNIlird and could not Grnt-
ity lis craze for destroying only upon
birds that were nearest at hand M""N
inE birds. cardinals, J" reels, c1'hirI~ amt
thruShcs went down Is easy cHnqursL7 hr.
fore class that had never been taught
better. and had neither sentiment nor con
science. Inc h"gr" hunter "i to-day. with
possibly lew exceptions, are not wing
sh"ts, ana thry MI their bags with "irdH
that can be Killed IN the trees II -;'tS
without saying that These are the hIr'is
that should be spared Ia the fields and To
society. My observation has been that
few, very few, negroes Will pass, gun IN
hand, anything that has feathers and Is
large enough tn cook, ami this IS borne
ont "y the iact that the oIueJhy. the wood
p"cNer, and the catOIrd are disappearing
from the heids and w""ds almost ~ last
rs the mocklnE bird proper.
The destruction of the mucking bird has
been more rapid because his nest has been
Systematically ruhbed by parties Of both
CUlurs for private gain or graft
tiCatiOn- \ year or two since
We noted one shipment "f these birds
from Savannah which contained rsO or .Jn
| p"n the streets Of this and all other cities
they are openly sold every sUrImer.
When, however, we look at him from
sentimental point, the wonder that any one
can harm member Of the muckiuE bird
family increases. No Song bird IN the
world can equal the sweetness "f his notes
or sustain song 81 long. No bird known
to naturatists can produce the notes Of
others and Of fowls or even animals with
such precision aud in such combination
The little gray singer that balances him
self upon treet"ps, or dances along the
ridges o! our houses, seems to have all the
bird notes OF the land At his tongues end.
and to delight in weaving them into new
forms Of beauty. That he has never been
the poets theme To the extent that the
lark, the nightingale, or even the robin
for verse. nor Is il at all pneticaL Had he
borne the name Of OrpheUs, as does his
=. Il