Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-11-12
TIL SPARROW AND THE TROUT
concerning the English Bird and the
English Imported Fish.


Concerning the English BIRD and the
English Imported Fish.
The English sparrow is one Of the
most unattractiye birds--we should
say the most unattractive were 1t not |
mat pictures Of the apteryx and the |
dodo suggest that 1t is possible that the |
avian family may contain specimens !
more ill-bred and generally disreputa-
Die In appearance than he, says the
Hartford Courant. Both these, how
ever. we believe are extinct. having
persisted like the ichthyosaurus OF "in-
nate LONELINESS, and have been set
aside In the scheme OF evolution as i'm
perfect and mistaken conceptions"
The English sparrow, therefore, re-
mains the most conditioned, disa-
greesble-Iooking and unpleasant man
nered OF all the birds. 1t would be I'M
fair to compare him with our song
sparrow. for he makes no pretensions
to musical skill and frankly admits
that his voice is harsh and strident and
mt for seedlings, chickering's and insults
only, but compare him to our famil-
lar "chippy." The feathers OF the Eng
fish bird-it is not possible. conscien-
tiously. to use the word "plumage" In
connection with him-the feathers OF
the English bird are OF dull color and
look dirty and faded, his clothes have
never been brushed. His heavy bill,
coarse head. hunched-up shoulders,
pugnacious tail. with two feathers
pulled out and one turned sidewiSe.
suggest that the pronunciation Of his
name. "sparrer," Ia correct. for like
professional prize fighter. he Is always
Quarreling out loud and practicing the
preliminary objurgations." Compare
all this to our chippy, whose plumaee
is neat. but not gaudy. whose form Is
! the refinement OF elegance and whose
, air and manner are the perfection OF
unobtrusive cheerful courtesy. HIS
outline is the perfection OF grace and
} adjusted proportion. Observe him as
he goes systematically through the
! woodbine on the piazza in search OF
, norious insects-how thoroughly and
neatly he works. neither inviting nor
c soliciting your observation. There IL
4 no "lost motion" about the chippy. but
Q all the movements OF the English spar
I row are jerky and aimless as OF some
I thing that has no definite place In tns
scheme OF creation and is working fo'
s one Much the same contrast holds De
n tween our brook trout and the I'm
Il ported English trout known as th'
e brown trout" OF course all trout ar
n beautiful. but the English FISH y
II chunkier and blunter. the curve OF tn
Is back, which In the American is said b.
l. artists to be the most beautiful I'm
In animate nature, is fiattened siighti'
D. by the increased size OF the head. In
,c colors are all toned down and subdue
d. by the slight but all-important degra
~ dalton which marks the line betwee
H. the work Of the great colorist and Tn
20 successful imitators. In disposition Tn
as English trout is at once sullen an
ay voracious and Is an Unsuitable canhl
ne bal. The American trout, 1t is true,
VI no, wholly free from blame In this n
'e' gard. but he does not devour the youn
&c OF his own race In the wholesale an
ol promiscuous way that marks the iee'
Of ing of his English cousin. The col
OF trast between the typical carieatur'
as OF John Bull and Uncle Sam rs not
'rs together without justification in FAC
'ao There is a tendency in this country
40 produce simmer. more active az
eN elegantly formed animal than u
'N English prototype. We have no VIII
= 20 lessen the international good feeiii
INC between the two great branches OF Z
JOE English speaking people. but We mu
o. say firmly tina, the pugnaeious and pr
&c. creative English sparrow is an ug
a' looking bird and an unmitigated nj
ING sance. without brains enough TO tea
him TO 90 south in winter or bres
enoush TO make him worth eating.