SHALL WE PAY OUR DEBT? 



369 



protection. I sincerely hope that every State in 

 the Union will make it a misdemeanour for any per- 

 son to be found harbouring English sparrows on 

 their premises^ Of all the foolish sentiment that 



To bring this pair of young cowbirds to their present state, 

 three black-masked warbler s y two red-eyed vireos, and two indigo 

 finches were put out of existence by the mother cowbird. 



was ever fostered to the detriment of our welfare 

 in this country, the sentiment which protects "the 

 dear, little English sparrow" is the most foolish. 

 I should exactly as soon protect "a dear, little" 

 copperhead or coral snake. 



After sparrows, I should count the cowbird as 

 the next worst menace to other bird life, and I un- 

 hesitatingly urge the complete extermination of 



