Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-24
,y.ABrrs or srsDs.
Our Eesusmic Ornishoiogist Ds
uou.ess the Imported Engiish


reusess the Imported Rngiish
sparrow.
A Washington telegram says: Tho
material is largely in hand in the newly
Organized division Of economic orni-
tholoey Of the Department Of Agricul-
ture for series Of bulletins upon the
relations Of several common species Of
birds in this country to agriculture.
The evidence collected will have .
strong tendency in some cases to upset
widely prevalent notions respecting the
habits and value Of certain birds, and,
in others, to lead to organized efforts
FOR the mitigation or extinction OF pests
which threaten destruction to valuable
branches Of agriculture. In the latter
category DR.. q. II. Merriam, the head
of the division, places the English spar
low as chief. This bird was imported
with o flourish Of praise some years
ago as an agent for the protection Of
shade trees from the ravsges Of cater
pillars, inch worms, and other creep.
ing things, and has SO multiplied aud
developed among its new surroundings
as to become, DIR. Merriam thinks, a
vastly greater scourge than the one it
was expected to counterfeit. Its pres
ent rate of increase is enormous, and
tho new territory which it invades is
estimated at mere than 100, 900 square
miles annually. 1t is essential a town
bird, nesting almost exclusively about
and upon the projections OF buildings
but it takes long vacations during the
fruit.growiDg seasons, and wreaks its
fastidious appetite upon the largest and
juicest of grapes and the daintest oil
tree fruits, in which work of destruc-
ton its aggregate Of damages is almost
incompatible.
How best to prevent its further in
crease and curtail its ravages is
AN UNsOLvED PROBLEM.
1t may be shot or poisoned, or it may
be despoiled Of its nest, but neither
plan promises permanent relief. 1t is
wary and suspicious creature, readily
learning to avoid places where any of
its fellows met their fate, while, as if in
anticipation of future necessities, 1t has
within the last year or two begun to
study and practice the art of nest
building in trees.
The bobolink of the North (the rice
bird of the South has been receiving
much closer attention from the orni-
biologist and his correspondents. This
cheerful little creature is found to be
rather helpful to the northern gram
growers, an examination of its nav
disclosing the fact that it does not care
for the growing grain, but lives upon
the seeds of destructive weeds and
upon equally destructive field insects.
But il so times its annual migrations as
to pass about three weeks in the rice
fields of the South at the season when
that grain is in the milky state, and
there its rayages are enormous.
BENEFICIAL BIRDS OF PREY.
OF the birds Of prey, the hawks and
the owls, for the killing of which Penn
sylvania, and perhaps other States, pay
a premium, DR.. Merriam says orni-
biologists are convinced that their
services are Of great value to farmers.
Not more than three out of upward of
thirty species prey upon domestic
fowls, and even these more than re.
munerate the farmer by killing field
mice. The other species live entirely
upon field mice, grasshoppers, beetles,
and other vermin which are great de-
stroyers Of grain. The crow has re-
ceiyed considerable attention from the
Doctor and his correspondents, bat the
evidence in hand is not sufficient to
warrant verdict. So far as 1t goes it
creates impressions in his favor. lie is
a coIn-thief, to be sure, but his pilfer.
irgs may be guarded against, while on
the other hand he destroys some kinds
Of field yermin in great numbers, to say
Of his work as u scayenger.