344 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



it of late. Nor do we bear of its depredations on growing fruits, 

 and may fairly presume that the real indictment against him con- 

 tains but two counts, the first being the destruction of grain, and 

 the second the driving away of song birds from their neighborhood. 

 As to these charges I will relate my experience and observations of 

 these birds for what it may be worth: 



About five years since a small colony of English sparrows came 

 to Galena from some neighboring city, presumably Dubuque, and 

 found a home under the roof of the Illinois Central freight house. 

 Not being disturbed, they raised their young, so that by the follow- 

 ing winter they numbered fifty to sixty individuals and acquired the 

 freedom of the city. They raided Main street every morning for 

 food, which they found principally among the droppings of horses 

 along that thoroughfare; and when disturbed by passing teams they 

 were accustomed to perch along the telegraph wires overhead. They 

 also frequented the grain warehouses to pick up scattered grain. 

 They spent their leisure in different small groves in the city, one of 

 their favorite resorts being the trees back of the custom house, where 

 their merry chatter added much to the pleasures of a sunny winter 

 day. It was expected that their presence would prevent the usual 

 number of song birds from appearing the next Spring; but we had 

 the usual number not only the next, but every subsequent year, not- 

 withstanding the large increase in numbers of the sparrows which 

 now hold possession of the principal streets in large flocks. We 

 have on our premises, which are near the principal business streets, 

 boxes for wrens and blue birds, and expected to see the sparrows 

 fight for their possession, but such has not yet been attempted; 

 everj'^ season these boxes are occupied by their old inhabitants, and 

 the only fighting is done by these song birds for individual posses- 

 sion. 



It is often suggested that we should find an example of mild- 

 ness and peacefulness in the birds, but of all sanguinary wretches 

 these are chief. One pair of wrens and one pair of blue birds are all 

 that can be permitted to live on a city lot. If more than one pair 

 attempt it there is a fight, which closes only in the flight or death 

 of the weaker party. Often we see bitter fights between blue birds 

 and wrens for the possession of some coveted spot, but as yet we 

 have seen no sparrow engaged in any fight with other birds. In 

 fact, they are seldom on the residence streets, except in autumn, 

 when they are attracted by the seeds of the gardens and hillsides. 

 They may be on their best behavior here, knowing that they came 

 uninvited and exist by toleration. 



No one expects them to eat insects, but like most seed-eaters 

 they like an occasional change of diet, and go for a little grasshopper 

 sauce. They are hearty and social in their habits, and would cer- 

 tainly be greatly missed if they were blotted out of existence. 



