The times., 1898-10-09
SPARROWS AND MOCKERS.
The Immigrant Bird n Friend of the
Native SOngster.
tFrom the Country Gentleman.)

(From the Country Gentleman)
The Southern States have long been
noted for their strawberries and flower
gardens, and just as long for the goodly
number of song birds that delighted to
make their homes in these famous shrub
berries. Chief among these songsters. as
all the world knows, was the mocking
bird. so far famed for his variety and
power of song. From time immemorial he
has been the joy and pride of our gardens.
But when the allen bird from over the
seas came down upon us he put to flight
the mocking bird, and for this reason is
the sparrow most rallied against.
Most people believe that the mocking
bird is gone, in the same sense that the
paroouet and wild pigeons are gone; but
most people never look below the surface
In anything, and never beyond their gar
den walls in this particular thing. While
all the world is crying out against the
English sparrow for destroying the mock
ing bird, wish to affirm that the sparrow
has in this case done good work in saw
ing the mocking bird from utter exter-
mination, for which all true lovers of
birds should be grateful. This indirect
kindness to the mocking bird and his real
admirers should absolve the sparrow from
all other sins of which he may be guilty
In proof of my affirmation it Is but
necessary to call the attention of the
in the case. Naturally the mocking bird
seemed to prefer a lodgment near the
| hauntS of man. Through generations of
association this instinct had become a
| marked trait, and IL was an uncommon
| thing TO find pair nesting far from a
! human habitation, and so trusting and
| gentle had they become that they rarely
| built their nests out of easy reach of
man. Though most people profess such
| oh N ha n
and are so indignant that the sparrow
| has deprived them of their songsters
! they forget to blame themselves for par
/ ticipating in the almost universal custom
! of caging, which prior to the new order
| of things was exterminating the species.
/ II has been custom for years in the
| South never 10 allow a mocking bird to
| escape the prison bars. If it could be cap
! tured while in the callow state So con-
fiding a bird was easy prey under the old
| regime, for they often built their nests
on rose bush or trellis, where even my
! lady could lift with soft white hands
| the birdlings from their airy home and
! place them in confinement for life or
| death-in so per cent of all cases death
| from grief or starvation or neglect was
and is their lot So universal is the GUS
tom of caging that the little negroes OF
! the south make a business OF capturing
every young mocking bird they can find
knowing they have an ever-ready market
for them.
Legislatures in vain had tried TO stor
the wanton cruelty. When the species
| seemed doomed, in stepped the sparrow,
and after a hard fight tfor the mockins
birds was not easily routed, the songste,
was forced into more remote regions
away from his beloved strawberries and
orchards. He can now be found in tn,
hedge-rows and thorn trees remote from
the habitat of man. Already a rapid in
crease can be noted in the species sine,
their nests are now comparatively mac
cessible to their friends ~.
! l know q species of hedge where the,
! have become so numerous as to give on.
the impression of a flock l have counted
| as many as seven OF these meIliflent
! beauties in a very limited space / knoI
of another colony that is growing
stronger two miles from human habita
tion, on the edge of a dense swamp h,
the side of a lonely stretch of ievee
I How glad they make these waste places
| though the long summer daysi
In spite of mans ipgratitude and th'
sparrow's usurpation. the mocking bird
still comes back to his beloved tree ant
chimney tops in sweet May weather and
regales US with song. But these are only
flying visits He also in some instance:
slips into a favorite roosting place IL
some vine or shrub or evergreen near
| dwelling, after the noisy sparrows are IL
bed. and serenades through the long
| hours of night with his soft music. W.
| should like very much to see the sparrow
60 but we rejoice that the woodland and
hedges are being filed with mockinl
birds