The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-22
the PURPLE GRAckLE.
Famous Victory Over an F:ngIi.h so.,,.-
That Elated the Biark bird Fr.o.

To THE kDIToR 90 THE SrN-S,, d,
falling temperature that come. WITH -
iember my friends tho black HI rcis Sc 80
OF Northern winter and bethink IT,
' selves that II u time to depart for mo--
genial climes where there ~ no dan,as ~
frosted feet or Ice locked larders "
! Messieurz and Mesdames Graeula o,,i...,.
1 Nhlch Mr' Wilson the ornithologist rtv..
a. the family name ~ m. purple Erartl.
,he common name used for the CROW hl.~1
o bird IN Pennsylvania. arrive in the .o,,.-
IN large nocks aud divide into family 800.
I for purposes of notification. In the IN
they reas-smble In nocks to go South ~.
hrsi arrival on the Capitol grounds $500
years ago was a solitary male. and h. :,
manned In his bachelor solitude for 49,,
three years. but last year surrounding IN "a.
charms Of lady bird. he went into hon.
keeping with her and raised a family Nj.
THIS family he returned last spring ana ~.
eral families OF youngsters were the result
The freedom from annoyance on the 60.
toll grounds begot confidence. and the ~
attention Of the visitors to the sou,r,sl.
and pigeons brought about an unusual
tamenesS IN the hlackbirdS They voyIa
Join with the alting pigeons when food ~.
being distributed. and when a chance p,o,..,
struck their taste they would seize IL IN.
impudent English spagows attempted =.
tyrannize over the blackbirds a. they A.
over, the. pigeons, hut one day a sparroU
met his New Orleans when n youthful hiack.
bird calmly dovned" him, and with M.
loot upon his neck EXPIRE ssnd the Sentimen,
yranny Of the British Is a. an end Fros
sparroNs
Some persons discovered that m. hl.c..
birds enjoy crumbs Of bread and forthUttA
proceeded to feed them with the same IA
THIS banaueting table came the bell cereal
crumbs with the iiSh,ninT Ike ''e saD,d ieI
that distinguishes the nimble pickpoeks,
when he despoils some rustic % his purss N
crowd but this time the sparrow reckonrd
without his host, for no sooner had one ~
them picked up moruel Of bread than
biackbird -talked over to him and gave hin
such shaking that he had 10 disgorEs tAs
stolen meal Then 20 a distance retired ~
chattennE rparrows, and In q noisy mas
meeting evidently discussed this new phss
bird dared To cast on tho shackles whIch ~
English lntruders had persistently fastened
on the native birds.
II was a revelation and evidently di.oo,.
oerted the Sparrows. In the meantime tha
youthful Gracula quiscala disported ths1.
OF their parents. who stood admlrinsiy
Watching their progeny. The little TOP.
knots that distinguish the little bird,
appearance characteristic Of the yo1thfai
top piece, and the birds stepped around
with tread that would have done credit
TO members Of Frederick the Greats cels-
brated grenadier corps, for the black bird
marches With dianifed step and scorns tie
frivolous hop Of the sparrow II remalna
To he seen whether this resistance 20 the
sparrow has Developed new traits in the
black bird that will turn him into brtRand
For years the blackhird has borne a had
name. hecause II - charged that in the
spring when he comes In -Warms he digs IN
the farmers growing corn Wilson, Whiis
accepting the corn story, says however,
that the black bard more than pays for the
corn he eats by destroying myriads 81 In
scots. these same insects beink the weess
foes Of the farmer which " lett und sturhed
would entirely deVastate his fields. Later
investigators som To prove that the black
bird u not seek ing the corn, but the maraud-
ing insects. The proof II that the ~iOnachs
of blaCkbrds shot while on a cornfeld COZ
tain not grain OF corn. hut a number q
CutN orms b. u. T.
HARRIsBuRG. Pa September q.