The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-12-28

tree, or his comely little house built q
purpose for him; and, on the principl
that possession is nine points out of te
IN law, contests him on his return in tn
spring. We are happy to say that il
some cases the wee wren is more than
match for the sparrow, but in the major
ity of cases the might of the unamiabl
intruder takes away the right of the hap
Ply, useful wren, and instead of his cheer
full song and salutary labors in the insec
world we have the Gathering twitter o.
the homely sparrow and his depreciation.
In the grain fields. A bad exchange, in
deed, is this, to take place on a mans
premises right under the eayesdrop OIL
his house; and that, too, without his con.
sent! But if We build the house for the
wren, we may control this matter in part
at least. Give the wren the advantage
OF mauttuna IN Pdroo, and making the en-.
trance TO his house just large enough to
admit his wee body, exclude the clumsy
bulk of the intruder. Then your sweet
songster can leave his home with i'm
punlty when he wishes to take his win
soJourn in the South. This, however,
will not secure him against all annoy
ance. Not long ago a lady of intelli-
gence and good powers of observation re-
lated to me the following incident: Hear
ing great noise among the birds in a
tree in the yard, she went out to see what
it meant Presently down tumbled a
large bundle of feathers out Of the FOLIAGE
and on to the grass. Alarmed at her
presence, the clump of sparrows separated
and flew away, leaving poor wren half
dead. The wrens may endure this kind
OF treatment for while, but it is hardly
probable that they can secure the wonted
happiness of their home life under such
circumstances. Therefore, unless war
fare is waged against the constantly and
rapidly increasing colony of sparrows, it
is to be feared that the wren will seek an
abode elsewhere.
Another bird of great usefulness around
the house is the cave swallow. That ele-
giant flight which it describes, like a
happy thought against clear sky, is not
merely recreation-it is daily indus
try in search of food, a constant capture
of insects, and so a constant service to
man. Always seeming to be gyrating
merely for pleasure, it 'makes it's way
through the trackless air with such nice
accuracy that it can pick up flying gnat
whilst moving at the rate of more than q
hundred miles an hour" Though never
going out of its way for the purpose, it is
to capture not less than thou
sands insects every day. This bird is,
therefore, the very best antidote for
snats and mosquitoes, as we'll as number
ess other insect pests. Besides, what a
onely place is any farm villa without
'hese graceful, happy creatures! If they
'annot sing to US they, above all other
birds, seem to have the gift of conyersa-
ion. Hear them laugh and chatter up
here in that jug-nosed habitation under |
he caves of the old-fashioned barn.
Surely they must understand each other:
md did any 0ss1sof them ever fly away
rom that place in such manner as to |
Indicate anything but the lightest, hap
'iest heart possible? Make the caves of
'he barn broad, then, and protect your
little tenants against every insult or in
rusion. If you cannot truthfully tell the |
boys that the COWS will give bloody milk
they stone these happy, useful crea.
ures, give them at least to understand |
hat some of the flies which PLACED an
'ient Egypt will visit them if they perse-
ute and drive away the swallow. The
'arn swallow proper is the fork tailed
'arity, distinguished to every eye. This
pecies gives life and cheerfulness to the
inside of the barn, fixing his half-bowl of
nest on the large wooden pin the peak
II the rafter, or elsewhere along that fav-
rite piece of timber. How many time
he farmer boy watches the young family
cushing their row of heads over the rim
# the nest, or standing in line along
ONE collar beam of the spacious old-style
building, their musical chatter being the
most pleasing part of the general effect.
n building that new-fashionej and per-
laps highly ornamented barn, initiate
our grandfather in this at least, that
ou make the time -honored diamond.
mapped hole in each gable for the accom-
nodatlon of this bird. Time fails us to
peak OF the black or purple martin. the
argest of all swallows. When his large
lack figure and loud note attract your
ttention on the first days of Nav see
hat the pertinacious sparrow is dislodped
rom his house on your premises, or he
nay become disguised with the everlast-
ng quarrel with this imprudent usurper
nd leave you for good.
There is also the white-bellied. or
Jump swallow, spending the summer to
he northward. 1t will sometimes leave
IS natural cavity for a cavity about the
uilding. The chimney swift, once an
lhabitant of hollow trees, but now SO
ttached to the neighborhood of man
nat he will endure almost any amount
noise and smoke rather than 90 else
here, is not swallow, but genuine
Witt. He is quite analogous to them,
owever, in the popular mind, and as
estroyer of insects is probably quite as
seful. Since he and the swallows have
u left their original habitat of hollow
jumps and trees and caves, in order to
nearer to and consequently more SER
ceable to mn, let us give them our es
scial care and protection.-J II. Lana
'e IN Baltimore Sun.