The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-09-20
FRIEND OF THE spARRows.
Tells Of the Good They DO to Thesl
Hunsau SIauderera.

Tells of the Good They DO to Their
Human SIanderers.
| see In magazines and papers SO
many articles denouncing the sparrow
that feel II my duty to tell Of my
IS years Of close companionship with
this little chap. While read the ac-
counts Of his alleged murders and dep
relations on other birds, have yet to
see any such disgraceful acts on his
part.
My experience with him has proved to
me that he is the farmers best friend.
He is the first little fellow In the spring
to pounce on and destroy all the cater
pillars and insects that are destructive
to the farmers crops, and he keeps peg.
glng away at these vermin until the
grain Is ripe. Then the crops are so
far advanced that they are safe. All
he then asks in return for the benefit
be has been to the farmer Is little
grain to carry him through the fall and
winter
So few know the reason for the in
PRODUCTION of the English sparrow to
this part of the world that wish to
give it. Many years ago the streets
Of New York were lined with beautiful
trees In the spring, as soon as they
began to put on their summer foliage,
they were attacked by an ugly looking
green worm called the inch worm.
These would devour all the leaves, leav-
ing the tree perfectly bare, and then
hang from the trees In millions by a
silken thread. They became such an
intolerable nuisance that great many
people had the trees cut down to get
rid Of them. After introduction Of the
sparrow this nuisance ceased to exist.
He did his work bravely and well. This
certainly is proof of the benefit he is
to the farmer. You can depend on 1t
that he destroys more harmful insect
life in proportion than he takes back in
pay for what grain he eats. While
now and then there may be cases of
aisgracefuI acts on his part to others
Of our most beautiful feathered crea-
lures, he has always behaved himself
In my presence.
At this writing he is living in peace
with the catbird, robin, brown thrush,
oriole and many other birds in and
around my premises. The little chap
cheers us with his presence and CHEEKY
note all winter. Thousands of them
are killed off by deep snow, cold and
want of food. Not only is he benefit
to us In the way above mentioned; he
is shield, protector to all the other
birds. in that he gives up his life to
tramp cats, hawks and the boy with
the rife. IL he were not with us sure
ly all the other birds would have to
suffer.
saw an article In one of our maga.
zines advising the wholesale destruc'
tion of the sparrow with grain soaked
In poisoned water. What a terrible
combination that is to get in the hands
of some idiot who would use 1t and de-
stroy numberless other feathered song
sters. Last winter one of my neigh
bors soaked corn in poisoned water and
scattered 1t for the destruction of crows
He killed bevy of quail | saw the
dead birds Besides, many other birds
have suffered with the quail.
Before condemning this little chatter
box make your home with him summer
and winter, and the more you see OF
him the more you will see his value to
the farmer. and you will find on the
long, cold and dreary days in the coun
try in winter when all the other warb
lers are In the sunny South, these little
innocents will brighten your pathway
with their cheerful notes.-Forest and
| Stream.