The Press., 1910-05-04
UNION.

George Towne is planting pines in New Hampshire.
 Miss Edith Dodge will go this week
 to work for a lady friend in West Stafford.
 Mrs. Hattie Marcy of southbridge, with her mother, Mrs Martha Miller, who is 85 years old, and her daugh- ter, Mrs. Clara Miller, of Willington, visited friends in town last Wednes- day.
 Last Wednesday, April 27th, was the 81st birthday of Henry F. Corbin, and some of his friends planned to give him little surprise in the form of card shower. It was indeed a surprise and proved to be more than a shower. The storm began early in the week and it rained cards and letters, more or less, for several days. There were greetings from those of all ages. Among the cards was a very nicely written greeting from Isaac Johnson of Corning, Gal, who is S8 years old There were also greetings from Mrs. Charles Oorbin and Mrs. Aurelius Oorbin, both of Springfield. These ladies were Union girls, Miss Lovisa Lawson and Miss Ruth BlodRett, and are we'll remem- bered by some of Unions older resi- dents. MT. Corbin was very much lspfesssd WiSa the kind greetings-one hundred and thirty in all-and, while 1t is not possible for him to thank each of the senders in person, he hopes they will feel that. he deeply appreciated their remembrance of his birthday.
 Mention was made of English spar rows in this column a short time ago. We were glad to hear more from the Wilmington correspondent. We may J be "prone" to pay too much attention to linear say" and too little to lob. servation," but in this particular in. stance what we wrote of the English sparrow was based primarily upon our own personal observation of these birds in both city and country. Since writing the item we have looked up the record of English sparrows, as given by those who have studied their habits in different parts of our ooun- try. We quote from "Wild Life of Orchard and Field" In referring to the Canada sparrow, the author says: "Once in a while they come into towns. but the English sparrows soon get news of their presence and drive them away in true buccaneering style. " This same author refers to the English birds as the "outraReous English sparrows and as "tramps. |" Under date of Jan. 20, 1910, the United States department of ARri. culture issued Farmers Bulletin 393.'' "How to Destroy English Sparrows. H. W. Henshaw, acting chief of the biological survey, says, in his letter of transmittal: 'The bad qualities of the bird far outweigh its good ones. and, although it's ex. termination is impracticable, a re- duction of its numb bers is feasible and important. The bulletin states that the English sparrows do some. times eat insects (This we did not know, and here make the correction) | It also says: "AsIde from the de. struction of weed seed, there is very little to be said in the sparrow's favor. Here are some of the things said against the English sparrow "I It destroys small fruits, buds and | flowers of cultivated trees, shrubs | and vines. It damages wheat and | other grains. It reduces the numbers | of some of our most useful native | species, such as bluebirds, house | wren. purple martins, tree swallows. cliff swallows and barn swallows. by destroying the eggs and young and by usurping the nesting places. It attacks other familiar native birds. as the robin, wren, red-eyed vireo, Catbird and hooking bird, causing them to desert parks and shady streets Of towns. :" We might quote more. but It would be much better for thoae who are interested to send to the de. partment of agriculture for the bolle- tin. which may be had for the ask lnR' We hope none of our young people will mistake any of our dear native sparrows (of which there are so many kinds for the vulgar Eng. l1gh sparrow.