Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-22
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The Baltimore Sun Of June 12th had the
following Several years ago citizen of
West Chester, Penn, brought into that
pretty borough some half dozen spar
rows in the expectation that as they in
creased and multiplied they would pro-
tect the shade trees from the pest of in-
scots. The coming Of these sparrows was
hailed with delight by the citizens.
commodlous box was erected in the court
house yard for their protection against
bad boys and Indictment weather, and
they were regularly fed and watered until
they became domesticated. They were
the peta of the people. AS they
increased other sparrow boxes were
put up in the different parts Of the town
for their benefit. These being insufficient
to accommodate them, more boxes were
added until many of the shade and fruit
trees were ornanlented or disfigured 10y
costly bird-box architecture or rusty tin
fruit cans, pans and stovepipea After
four years. nursing the predatory instincts
of these prolific and irrepressible birds
began to manifest themselves 30 clearly
that the people who had heralded their
coming with Joy began TO consider them
a curse To the community. at had be-
grower, the gardener and florist, ms we'll
as the practical ornithologist, that the
much cared-for and overrated Hparrows
we're affecting seriously their respective
interests. The peal, plum and peach trees,
and also the grapevines were rifed
| of their buds. The grapes strawberries,
raspberries, and blackberries were taken.
| The tender herbs, grasses, and coleuses
Il a oh hNlf
by no means the least, tho close observ-
ing lovers of native birds proper were
forced TO note steady diminution, not
only yearly, but monthly, in the formerly
plentiful denizens of the town, such as
the wren, bluebirds, vireo, and 'chippy,
Is. SOCIALISM, even transitory visitors, as
certain of the warblers, &c, seemed 70
avoid West Chester, and new, ut, the
proper season, when the migrants as well
as residents enter the town, they are pur
sued and driven out by the hosts Of
'uEurpers'
Nearly all the native song and insectiv
orous birds disappeared before the com
bined attacks Of thehardy and pugnacious
sparrows. II Was found, moreover, thai
instead of Kidding the trees of insects tn,
sparrows preferred the seeds Of fruit ant
I
West Chester Microscopical Society, from
whose essays this account of this bchavo
of the sparrows is taken, undertook h
make an examination of the food eater
! by the spnrrows at different seasons o
the year. He says ""rhe autopsies of q
: sparrows revealed in IS grain and vege
table material solely. Each of the othe
. two had in their stomachs, which were dis
l IL In nsr Ntt
. series of examinations it will be seen onl
A two seventy ffths of the birds dissecIe
: had any insect food, and that in ii mini
: mum proportion. The vegetable inateria
a referred to was buds aud blossoms Of th
Q grapevine, the plum, pear, peach an
= haw trees; also some little grass and
: few of the earlier annual plants" 4
), satisfy those who commended that I'll
Q sparrow is graniyerous only in wintel
I when, in order to sustain existence, lie
e Obliged to live ON a grain diet, MI
b Warren examined so sparrows in Marcl
q April, May aud June and found in AZ {
e them cereal and vegetable food. In on
q beetle in conjunction with wheat, viii
II the food receptacles of the two remainir
u birds were empty.
+ These are facts il would not be difficu
W III blutl nun lNthNN NAhiuo NA
d in the country adjacent to them. We
% Baltimore are passing through the san
e experience ms the inhabitants of We
e Chester. We too, like them, took paii
10 to bring some sparrows to the city in Il
4 expectation that they wcnld destroy d
t. insects that infested our shade trees, nv
re we have found, like them, that they ha'
B. driven of orr native song and insective
knl,i ion.
m the city are spreading along the line
y our highways and rGilroads into 4
n country. Instead of being deliveran
RI from insects, they have become nuisan
le and pest. But they are with us, al
will continue in the midst of us in incref
lg ing numbers, and although Mr. War;
81 appeals to all lovers of native song bir
es to do all that lies within their power
et eradicate the sparrows, ii is very diilicr
Oh TO know how they " We, tOI that matt
rs, I ara "a 90 nhnuI IL