The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-28
Is PROPOSED THE Startling SHALL
DRIVE OUT THE LITTLE SPARROW.

ii really seems as If at last the little
sparrow would have to go The pIan first
suggested in Piitsburg Pa. 10 inport
stariings from Germany and let them make
their Anglo-American cousins emierate
seems likely to prove a complete success.
Next spring the forty pairs of starlings
that Superintendent David Fulton has in
his aviary at Riverview park Pittsburg
viii begin the campaign against the spar
rows and fight duel such az never has
been known in archaeological history
The stariings are of the German variety.
They are very warlike. and that is the rea-
son why they were preferred to denizens
of Great Britain. The German starting is
a most aggressive bird, and sees no reason
why he should not assert his supremacy
al any and all times. This is what Super
intendent Fulton says about the expert
ment:
Several years since our city purchased
plot Of ground In the suburbs of 80 acres,
composed OF hills and hoilows densely COW
cred with woods. We have made several
miles of drives through this park and are
beautifyine 1t for park purposes. The En-
glish sparrows have not invaded that local
ity very much and as we have thousands
OF songbirds there in summer we propose
to keep the sparrows away II possible.
German starlings have been bred by one
of our employees with success, and IL is well
known that they are great fighters.
especially where the sparrows interfere
with them. Now we are making an ex-
pertinent TO see II we cannot keep these
sparrows away with these beautiful song
birds. They are very hardy. staying all
winter in the place they are bred If fed
during the hard weather.
"Of course II is little early TO state
how this will work but the presumption
Is that these birds will he better than the
sparrows. for the starring viii at least sing
for MIS- breakfast
I'VE know by actual experience that
they viii not allow the sparrow TO stay in
the same place they are. for the starting Ia
a great fighter. and this year some of the
siarltngs which had been bred here left for
the South. and on their return found the
sparrows in possession Of their breeding
place. and after a few DAYS the sparrows
concluded II best To- give up and leave.
~. l.. FULTON. superintendent"
The importation of bird 10 drive away
the sparr1ws when II Is within the mem
ory OF the present generation that spar
rows were imported themselves to abate
nuisance recalls very forclbly the fact
that
''Rsg feas have lesser fieas
Upon their backs to bite 'eTn:
And these same fieas have lesser feas
And so sd infinitum
When the English sparrow first came to
New York years ago. I, was in answer 20
plea for the destruction OF an army OF
worms that suddenly heset everything and
every one Worms rolled or awnings.
buildings. trees and dozen other things.
uJon unfortunate passers by. They were
all over the sidewalks; they infested every
thing No person knew whether he ate
them or not. especially II u was his habit
10 dine In rests urant-
Finally. someone bcthought himself ~
the sparrow and thus {; came to pass
that the first little Englisnman was
brought 80 these shores. And bow ne
did dcvour the worms We hsd 20 en-
dure the pest the rest Of the summer, y
be sure. 20 give the SPARROW a chance 10
breed for spaTrows never multiply during
the winter. but the following summe:.
when the worm dragon sought 20 enguif
US the sparrow literally ate him out %
house and home and every place else.
Then il vas only a few years before a
cry went up from the farms and market
gardens thar the sparTo~s were destroy
ing grain and vegetables. that while tire
worms had been bad the sparrows were
worse II became apparent that some
thing had 70 be done that would free AZ
from this tiny Fgankeustein we rad err
at@d far az this country Is concerned
ard many we're The sche mes devised IL
was suggested that "a bounty be paid On
SfaFrows hsa1s, JUST 40 u - IN some
states ssa the heads ~ Objectionable ami
rnaEs ard the small hoy considered the
bird ieRitiuTre prey witch he might
stone or othe-wise do to death without
prospect ~ Teproof
f. was tits state Of affairs tia. lei
/ Director MCAfec. Of the Allegheny do
/ parsrusnt ~ public works. IN ccnssst with
/ Superintendent Fulton. Of Rivs-rNtex park.
- 70 she best Way in which 20 nd them
{ selves Fl the sparYows which had not
4 osliy be ccsEe 3 Eg.Sanc. "a the usual way,