The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-18
THE WAR ON ENGLISH sPARRoWs.
wholesale Slaughter Does Not seem to
Lessen Their Nuuber- in THIS Country.

wholesale Slaughter Does Not seem 70
Lessen Their Nuubers In THIS Country.
Years ago when the small English sparrow
was imported into this country to destroy the
insects and worms that attack garden plants
there was great rejoicing in the rural districts
and the prediction was made that the birds
would keep down the pests so efrectually as to
make life worth living TO the farmers and fruit
growers. But after nearly a quarter OF a CEN
fury the birds are hooted at on every side, de-
stroyed by thousands, made homeless by indlg-
nant househclders, and met with unfriendly re-
pulses everywhere. state and national laws
have been enacted to reduce their numbers, and
even to ex;erminate them utterly.
The ernitholoRist OF the Agricultural Depart
ment ut Washington has recently issued another
manifesto against the sparrows, giving minute
directions for their destruction. Several years
ago opinions concerning them were gathered
by the department. Everybody almost said
that the sparrows did more harm than good,
and that q general crusade should be organized
against the little pests. Since then almost an
nual bulletins have been issued relative to the
habits of the birds, and the methods OF destroy
ing them. State bulletins have also come TO the
help Of the national department, and n general
opposition against the birds existence in this
country has been stirred up by these persistent
attacks. The State OF Illinois offered a bounty
OF two cents a head for all dead sparrows, and
at one time as many as 1900 dead sparrows
were offered in n single day. This Wholesale
slaughter Of the little birds does not seem to
lessen the numbers materially. The rate OF In
crease among them is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS per-
haps than among any other known bird.
The recent bulletin issued by the Agricultural
Department says that one of the best ways to
destroy the sparrows is to pull down their nests
with the eggs and young In them, and that
with a long pole with a hook on the end. The
birds as a rule nest under the cornices of the
house, piazza, or among the masses OF Japanese
churches, and. public. buildings. II the nests
cannot be reached with a long pole q stream. of
hose pipe will be cffectual in causing destruc-
ton 10 the homes. of the birds. Systematic and
biologist OF the Agricultural Department, and IL
Is even suggested that the birds should be made
birds for the table. When properly cooked it
Is hard to distinguish their meat from that OF
the ,favorite rice birds. It Is asserted.
This last recommendation has been made
before, and the advice has been needed in a
way not altogether satisfactory to the depart
River. two miles above Lawrance,. Kan, q
sparrow farm has been established by a man
named j; d.. Norton, whose chief business Is TO
supply the market demand for sparrows. He
supplies the tables Of many hotels in Chicago,
fat, plump sparrows hat readily pass as rice
birds or reed birds according to the season.
Wild Sfar we that niP" produce ct'e seeds edsA Of F Which Rt Thy
sparrows are very fond, and the cost Of feeding
his numerous fiocks Is very little. Bird houses
and cheap wooden structures have been erected
on the farm SO that the birds can build their
nests and raise their numerous broods without
fear OF molestation. Thousands OF sparrows
have accumulated on the farm, and although
enormous quantities. are shipped to market
every season the supply keeps steadily up. He
practically controls the market, and ships his
birds only when the demand is good and prices
remunerative.
Meanwhile, the spaErows increase in numbers
all over the country, invading new territory at
the rate Of 10000 square miles a year. A few
friends scattered here and there lift up a voice
In their favor occasionally. The humane
children and older people to rob the nests OF the
sparrows, and to- kill the birds with stones or
shotgpns. The laws are said TO be education
ally vicious.
the destruction OF innocent living creatures"
says the President of the Illinois Humane
Society. NO one who has the interests OF the
coming generation at heart can fail TO view with
take pleasure in destruction and murder"
Some farmers and fruit growers offer evil
dence in favor OF the birds, claiming that they
do very little harm TO fruits, vegetables, or
rows would bring great disaster upon the farms
OF the country. They think that there would
be q return OF the inch-worms and other insects
which to-day are kept down in numbers by
these birds.
A similar crusade has been conducted against
the sparrow in England, and some OF the warm
est friends OF birds there unhesitatingly declare
themselves in favor OF the final determination
While the sparrows do some good in destroying
noxious insects their evil habits more than
counterbalance the benefits. The English far
mers are almost a unit in declaring that the
sparrows destroy tons of berries, vegetables,
and grains every season, and that they drive
away more useful birds.