Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-29

ihe EhsHsh sparrow was introduced
Into America about sixty years ago. and
Is now distributed over nearly all OF
the United States and Southern Canada
says the New York Sun. This rapid
dissemination Is result Of the birds
hardness. extraordinary fecundity, d.
vcrsity OF food. aggressive disposition
and almost complete immunity from
natural enemies.
Ned Dearborn, biologist Of tho De.
pnrtment OF Agriculture, Is severe on
the English sparrow. He says they
are cunning. destructive and filthy. al
though admitting that sparrows con-
sumo quantities OF weed seed and In
summer numerous insects.
During an investigation Of birds tina,
destroy alfalfa weevil in Northern
Utah. English sparrows were found "a
be feeding their nestlings largely on
weevil larvae and cutworms. both very
Injurious to alfalfa. Wherever this
bird proves useful 1t is entitled to
protection and encouragement
Under normal conditions Its choice OF
insects may be unfavorable. Out OF
522 English sparrow stomachs ex-
amined by the biological department OF
the Agricultural Department forty
seven contained noXious Insects nifty
held beneficial insects and thirty one
contained insects OF practically no i'm
portance. The Agricultural Depart
ment does not say what was found 10
the credit or discredit OF the other 394
specimens examined. a report on only
one-quarter OF the specimens examined
can hardly be considered satisfactory
N nn rn ,t,t,, IT,
subject.
The English sparrow is condemn ed
for It's destruction of cherries, grapes
pears, peaches. buds and flowers OF Gull
uvated trees. sprouts and vines. In the
garden. the scientists say, sparrows
eat seeds as they r!pen, nip off tender
young vegetables. especially peas and
lettuce as they appear above ground
We have never experienced this trou-
BILE. although sparrows are abundant
about the garden. They are nuisance
with their muss. building nests in
troublesome places. in the cutters on
the roof, causing the water to over
flow and littering up the building gen
orally. but this Is the worst charge we
are able to bring against the English
sparrow.
DIR. Dearborn says the English spar
row reduces the number OF some OF
our most useful and attractive native
purple martins. tree swallows cliff
swallows and barn swallows by de-
stroying their eggs and young. and by
usurping nesting places. 1t attacks
the robin, wren, red-eyed wires. catbird
and knocking bird, causing them to de-
sert parks and shady streets Of towns
Unlike our native birds. whose place
1t usurps, II has no song, but is noisy
and vituperative. 1t defles buildings
and ornamental trees, shrubs and vines
with its eXcrement and with Its bulky
nests.
Nowhere is the English sparrow in
cluded among the birds protected BY
law. and as individuals and flocks have
an extremely narrow range, each flock
occupying one locality to which It's ac-
tivities are chiefly confined. they are
easily exterminated. When place has
once been cleared of sparrows 1T will
be some time before it Is reoccupied.
English sparrows are good to eat. and
their use AZ food is recommended he
cause Of their nutritive value and as n
means OF reducing their number. Spar
rows feed in close focks, and when
thus assembled a large number may be
killed by charge of shot from q small
bore, twelve, sixteen OF twenty-g gauge
Parker shotgun. Sparrows can be
baited by scattering grain about. shoot
ing the birds and then rebaiting the
places. The batting places should be
far enough apart so the birds Mt the
second and third feeding places will
not be frightened by the discharge Of
the gun at the first flock.
In many places traps must be EN-
ployed where gun cannot be used or
where 1t Is not desirable. Besides be-
ing safe. properly designed traps have
other advantages. Native birds caught
In the raps can be liberated unframed,
snd trapped sparrows can be kept alive
for food like poultry In Europe spar-
rows have been utilized for food for
centuries. In captivity the birds must
he kept clean, supplied with fresh,
clean water daily A variety OF food is
required to keep them In good condi-
ton; broad, oats. wheat, cornmeal
mash. lettuce and cabbage will be rel
ished.
To mercfully kill trapped sparrow
place the thumb nail at the base of the
skull and dislocate the neck by hard
and quick pressure. To dress sparrows
cut Off the legs. the wings at the outer
point and the neck close to the body;
strip OF the skin, beginning ut tho
neck; make n cut through the body vail
extending from the neck along the
backbone till the ribs are severed, then
1around between the legs to the tail,
and remove the viscera.
Sparrows may be cooked by any Of
the methods employed for reedbirds or
auail, and compare favorably with the