APPENDIX 433 



and I have seen fully grown Robins, who had dared to 

 come to the same fruit tree, pecked to death. 



Between the English Sparrow and Starling there is 

 perpetual war. The Sparrow is becoming less numerous, 

 perhaps also because there are fewer horses. For you 

 know that the grain picked from horse-droppings was the 

 Sparrow's chief food in winter weather. 



Of the two birds the Starling is far the most unwelcome. 

 From those few pairs set free in Central Park, New York 

 City, in 1890-91, the flocks have spread for more than 

 100 miles in all directions, and this tide is still at its flood. 



Though the Starlings move about after the nesting 

 season in great flocks, some are able to winter in all parts 

 of the range. So you, who live anywhere that English 

 Sparrows are found, may look out some morning and find 

 that the Starling is with you ; has dropped from the 

 clouds overnight. 



Starlings nest in early April, so that the flocks of mixed 

 parents and young begin to gather in late ]May, all in good 

 working order for cherry time ! We may blame Robins, 

 Catbirds, and Thrushes for berry stealing, but wait until 

 you have seen a flock of Starlings swoop down upon my 

 great "pie-cherry" tree, the fruit of which can be 

 swallowed without even one bite ! 



Last year the crop, of several bushels, was safe in tlie 

 morning ; at noon all the outside cherries, at least two 

 bushels, had been gobbled by Starlings ! 



In this same way the autumn and winter food of our 

 own native l)irds is destroyed, bush-berries and tree fruits 

 alike. In one day last autunni they stripped all the berries 



