The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-17

The Natural Hlstory Society Of VII.
mington enjoyed themselves yester.
day In South Brandywine park, foot of
Broome street. in social basket pic
mic. The attendance was not large on
account OF many members being away
on summer vacations, but the lack OF
numbers was made up in the social
enjoyInents OF the day, enhanced by
the contents Of huge dinner and lunch
baskets. Amongst those who respond
cd to the invitation to be present, were:
MIR. George Hardcastle, Professor
Beckwlth of Delaware College, Mira.
Sarah M. Fell. Mr., and Mrs. Lea Pussy,
Miss Emma Worrell. MIR. Walter d.
Bush. Jr., MI. Amos Q. Brinton. Mr..
and Mrs. s. j. Wiley, Mr.. and Mrs.
Lammotte. Mr.. 8. Jersey, Edward
and Miss Mary II. Tatnall ard others,
besides large number OF children. all
OF whom enjoyed the cool shades. the
breezy atmosphere, and the cold water
from the sprinEs.
During the afternoon a temporary
table was erected and upon 1t Mr..
Brinton who has gained quite n repu-
tstion as local hlstoriographer
spread upon II an old map OF Whining.
ton, made over 300 years ago, together
with chart OF tho city when John
Willing laid 1t out and named 1t VIII
lington. Mr.. Brlnton had also n chart
OF the town OF New Castle In the days
OF the colonies with view of Fort
Cassimer, chart of tho circular
boundary line between Delaware and
Pennsylvaniu, always disputed, an
electFotype OF the old Stidham man
sion and number OF old documents
~ ma rab Pa tIaa
deed OF 81, 900 acres OF land to the
Pusey family in the vicinity ofArburn
and extending from there to Tough.
kenamUn,
Tho explanation OF these old charts
and relics was as much a pleasure to
MIR. Brinton Us 1t WIS to his Interested
audience and when through with
them he was heartily thanked by all
present for the pleasant Entertainment
that had not been expected, Edward
ratnall. Park superintendent, having
been requested to tell what he know
about toads declined TINT topic Us II
was AN old one, and volunteered few
remarks about what ho had lately
found out about red squirrels. MIR.
Tatnal?s sympathies had always been
with these cute and cunning little In
habitinls OF the woods, and he wonld
but since he has been Park Srperlu
tcndeHt and has had ample opportuni,
| tics for studying their habits, he had
somewhat changed his mind.
lie found that instead ofthem living
on nuts and grain, they broke NJ
birds nests, destroying their eggs and
! their young, and ho had withdrawn
hts sympathy for them and tboy
might take care OF themselves. lie
ferIing 10 tho English sparrow, Mr.
| Iatnall thought they ought all tn be
destroyed. They were not natives OF
! this country and hal no business
here. OIt OF lO0 OF these sparrows
That had been killed tho oraws of ali
! hut ten OF hem were filled with wheat
! showing that Tor destroying insects
/ they were an entire failure. Branch
! ing of, Mr.. Tntnqll sail that it would
| lave been good thing II Washington
/ during the revolution, had killed of
all the Hrs5ianS, Us 1t might have pro-
| vented the spread of the Hessian lily
that destroyed SO tnuch wheat.
The Hess!an Ily he said was brought
over In the straw used by the llessians
when they landed below Elkton OIL
their way TO the battle of Braudywine
] Tho Hcssian lly has been in this com
! try ever since, hnh from that point
they have spread nil over the country
/ superintendent lutnalls remarks were
/ listened to with much interest. By
six o'clock the Society, after express
| ing themselves as delighted with thell
| days outing IN the park, gathered up
| lunch baskets and departed home
/ ward,