FRl>,aiLLIU.l!; — THE FINCHES. 527 



birds, and tlie experiment was suppcised to be a failure, when it was ascer- 

 tained tJiat they had betaken themselves to the vicinity of stables in the 

 southern part of the city, had increased and multiplied in large numbers, 

 reappearing in the winter to the nundjcr nf one liundred and fifty. They 

 were regularly fed by the city forester eacii day in tlie deer-park, and roosted 

 at night in the thatch of the roofs of the buildings. Since then they have 

 very largely increased. About twenty, tiiat same sunnner, were set at liberty 

 in IMonumeut Square, Charlestown. 



In 181i9 about one tliousand birds were imported, bv the City Govern- 

 ment, into Pliiladelphia. Fortunately they came in good condition, and being 

 released early in May immediately separated into scattered parties and pre- 

 pared for themseh-es newhonies. Some appeared in ilorristown and other 

 distant towns in Xew Jersey. Others wandered to Germantown, and the 

 remoter sulnirbs of Philadelphia, where they found the cherry-trees in full 

 blossom, and where their exploits in stripping the blooms from the trees 

 gave a not very favorable first impression of these new-comers. 



It has been exceedingly interesting to watch tlie manners and habits of 

 these strangers in their new homes. They have become quite tame, are fear- 

 less and gentle, and as they have been very kindly treated live in a condition 

 of semi-domestication. At first they built their nests, and passed tlieir win- 

 ters, in New York, among the thick is-ies that cover the walls of so nuxny 

 churches, in such cases building globular nests. As soon, however, as suit- 

 able boxes were prei^ared for them in sufficient (puuitities, these were taken 

 possession of in jireference to anything else. 



At the time of their introduction the sliade-trees in the parks and squares 

 of New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Newark, and other jtlaces, were greatly 

 infested with the larvte of the measure-worms that destroyed their foliage. 

 Since then these worms have almost entirely disappeared. A doubt has 

 been expressed whether the Sparrows destroy these insects. That they 

 eat them in the larva? form I do not know, but to their destruction of the 

 chrysalis, the moth, and the eggs, I can testify, having been eye-^^■itness 

 to the act. 



Apprehensions have been expressed lest these new-comers may molest and 

 drive away our own nati\'e birds. How this may lie when the Sparrows 

 become more numerous cannot now be determined, but so far they manifest 

 no sucli disposition. Since their introduction into Boston the Clapping 

 Sparrows appear to have increased, and to associate by preference with their 

 European visitors, feeding with them unmolested. I have been unable to 

 detect a single instance in which they have been molested, in any manner, 

 by their larger companions. Their predatory aggressions, however, upon the 

 rights of the common Eobin have been noticed, and deserve mention. The 

 Sparrows ajipear to be extravagantly fond of earthworms, but not able to 

 hunt for them themselves. They have learned to watch the Eobin as it 

 forages for these worms, keeping around, at a respectful clistanee, and as soon 



