The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-05
EHAr APARROWS Ear.
reed and Grain InsostIVOEOua Untn Thsy
Leave Nests.


FROM iks Pinsburg Gorsffs- Tirnss
Experiments recently condnctsd IN The
department. OF biology Of the Univsrsi'v n
Plttabure demonstrated TO what ettsn,
the EnRlish SPARROW " threatening IN.
aHricultural interests Of the COUNTRY Ths
experiments were conducted by Miss Lsur,
Holland Painter. under the direction N
Prof J. G. Fisherman. They have for A
basis the examination Of the crop conienis
of q total Of iSS adult and Nesting sparrru.
collected from various places. the period
Of collection extending over a number u
months.
Il was n 1850 that eight pairs Of EnElisA
span0Ws were liberated 10 the PARIS II
Brooklyn In the belief that they would de-
stroy certain insect pests that we're running
the shade trees Of Brooklyn and other cities
Other inpOrtatiOns were made. the lsrgs.,
In isse. when 900 pairs we're liberated q
PhIiadelphla. lovers q trees and bris
soon realized that a serious mistake bad
been made. for Il Was seen that the sparrow
did not appreciably destroy insects. a. q
vas observed 70 feed principally upon
grain. The Orniiholpgists Of tho country
som realized that on aecOunt % the CON.
baftveaeas OF the snaFroB and h wonderful
ability 70 adapt itself 20 diRerent condition,
oflfe beneficial native species were crowded
out.
In the report reference 10 made to ,hs
fact that the English sparrow Il our mos,
prolific bird. One pair under ideal coo.
ditiona would In q few yeau produce
progeny consisting Of millions Of individuals
That u IL found from siberia 10 the torrd
rome illustrates he wonderful power Of adapt.
abHity. The contents Of the crops Of ~
adult sparrows showed that they led almos,
entirely on seeds and grain. not one insert
being found. Forty per cent. Of the crors
contained wheat. Ten per cent. contained
buds ofiruit trees. This fact alone is sun.
cient evidence to condemn the sparrow
The study Of the feeding habits Of the
nesting sparrows develops an entirely
diRsrent set Of facts. The crops Of the 81
nestlinGs studied revealed in the majority
OF cases the presence Of insects. Ths
nestlinRs In question were Of different ages,
showing that they are inaectivoroDs uniA
they leave the nest. when they immediately
begin 70 feed upon grain. This fact Of tbs
lnaectivorOus nature Of the nesting sparrow
IL pointed out a. constituting the only 70.
desming featurs Of the sparrow. but does
not Offset the loas which the adult causes
the farmer In the destruction Of HE crOps
The field study Of these species shows that
Il h rapidly bringing about . great reduc'
ton In tire number Of native birds Of this
state Among those affected are Soms oi
our most valuable birds. such a. the blue
bird. swallow. robin. 4c.
some birds are found 70 b@ particularly
obnoxious In certain states. while IN others
the same speeies may Justly be considered
beneficial. This. according % the results
Of iss Investigation, does not apply 20 the
EnGIssh sparrow which h decidedly oh
nOxious wherever found. The suppression
or determination Of the SPARROW 4. there
fore. an interstate problem and should be
dealt with AZ once BY the various Stats
Legislatures.