The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-09
NOT A SAVING HABIT.


As almost ali these native birds have be
| lessenc1 IN numbers or entirely drive.
away from places where sparrows are
abundant, the bearing OF these facts is Oh
| vious.
| Finally, there's no species ofiniurious in
| sects that the sparrow has been known to
| destroy, even in small numbers which
Is not much oftener destroyed by native
J bros. Thus the sparrow does no kind Of
! eneficial work rs an insect DESTROYER wni n
| would not be much better done by native
| birds, while its presence prevents other
birds from accomplishing many kinds Of
/ work which the sparrow does not under
| take at all .
| Aside from the damage which the spar
| row occasions TO tie agriculturst and hor-
uculturlst, 1t Is lso chargeable with Of
lenses which are regarded by many people
as ms! significant, but which, nevertheless,
sometimes ma y be so marked as to dema nd
immediate attention. Great annoyance 10
caused by the soiling of window casings
cornice brackets, porches, awnings, and
ornamental, work OF every kind about
dwelling houses, business blocks and pub
lie buildings.
In Washington many of the statues ard
fountains in the public parks are more or
less disfigured by the sparrows, and in some
cases the defiement is so extensive that the
statues become positive eyesores. Soma-
times heavy rain obiiterates the stains for
shorttime, hut so long as the cause remains
unremedied the evil is sure to reappear at
more or less regular intervals.
In the SPRING OF 1856 personal examina-
ton OF the statues in the various parks and
squares showed that more than half were
thus conspicuously defaced, and further OBJ
servation shows that almost all are af
fected at one time or another. A simlar
state of things is found in the cemeteries
of the District The benches and other
resting places in parks and squares are
soiled.
Great trouble is caused in this city by the
attempts OF these birds to occupy gas
lamps and even the globes of electric lights
with their nests.
After fully investigating the subject, the
Agricultural Department made the follow
ing suggestions to the legislat tive bodies Of
the various States and Territories:
One. The immediate repeal OF all exist
ing laws which afford protection to the
English sparrow.
Two. The enactment Of laws legalizing
the killing OF the English sparrows at all
seasons OF the year and the destruction OF
itsnests, eggs and young.
Three The enactment OF laws making &c
a misdemeanor, punishable by fiue or
both-ta), to intentionally give food or shell
ter to the English sparrow, except with =
view to its ultimate destruction; (b). to
introduce or aid in Introducing ii into new
Ioca lities; (c). TO interfere with persons,
means Or appliances enga ged in or designed
for its destruction or the destruction OF It's
nests, eggs or young
Four. Ihe enactment OF laws protect
ing the great northern shrike or butcher
bird. the sparrow hawk, and the screech
owl, which species feed largely on the
English sparrow.
Five. The enactment of laws providing
for the appointment OF at least one per-
son holding civil office, preferably the
game constable, where such office eN-
lists, in each town or village, who shall
serve with out additional compensation,
and whose duty it shall be to destroy, or
bring about the destruction, OF English
sparrows in the streets, parks and other
places where the use of firearms is not
permitted
1t is evident that prompt and vigorous
legislation is needed in all sections where
the spa ROW has become eSta blished.
After an investigation of the workings OF
the county laws, where such are in force,
the Agricultural Department has declared
them to he impra cticabIe. The edict has
gone forth that the sparrow must go, and
unless such remedies as the department
have made be adopted. the entire country
will be overrun with this pest, which mis-
taken individuals introduced under the
impression that they were bringing
blessing TO their native land