The Kn^lish Sparrow 



By T. (jilbcTt Pearson 



Many kinds of foreign birds have been introduced into the United States 

 with the hope of having them become acchniated to their new surroundings. In 

 many cases this action was taken by persons who doubtless were actuated by the 

 desire to have around them certain forms of bird-life that they had been accus- 

 tomed to see and enjoy about their European homes before migrating to these 

 shores. 



Linnets, I'.ullinches, Skylarks, and many other birrls interesting on account 

 either of their singing, or of the striking character of their plumage, have been 

 liberated in the Tnited States and Canada. Game-birds, especially liungarian 

 Partridges, the little pAiropean Quail, and various species of Pheasants go to swell 

 the list of foreign birds that have been brought here to mingle with our native 

 bird-population. As a rule these imported species did not thrive in their new 

 surroundings, and after a short time were seen no more. 



The most striking exception to this rule has been the House Sparrow of 

 Europe, which in this country has acquired the incorrect title of "English" Spar- 

 row. The first importation of these birds appears to have been made in the year 

 1850, by the directors of the Brooklyn Institute. Eight pairs were that year 

 liberated in Brooklyn, New York. In a bulletin on the English Sparrow, issued 

 by the Department of Agriculture in 1889, a statement by the Hon. Nicholas Pike 

 is quoted, in which he gives an account of this early attempt to naturalize English 

 Sparrows in this country-. He writes : 



"It was not till 1850 that the first eight pairs were brought from England 

 to the Brooklyn Institute, of which I was then a director. We built a large cage 

 for them, and cared for them during the winter months. Early in the spring of 

 1851 they were liberated, but they did not thrive. 



"In 1852 a committee of members of the Institute was chosen for the re-intro- 

 duction of these birds, of which I was chairman. Over $200 was subscribed for 

 expenses. I went to England in 1852, on my way to the consul-generalship of 

 Portugal. On my arrival in Liverpool I gave the order for a large lot of Sparrows 

 and song-birds to be purchased at once. They were shipped on board the steam- 

 ship 'Europa,' if I am not mistaken, in charge of an officer of the ship. Fifty 

 Sparrows were let loose at the Narrows, according to instructions, and the rest on 

 arrival were placed in the tower of Greenwood Cemetery chapel. They did not 

 do well, so were removed to the house of Mr. John Hooper, one of the committee, 

 who olTered to take care of them during the winter. 



"In the spring of 1853 they were all let loose in the grounds of Greenwood 

 Cemetery, and a man hired to watch them. They did well and multiplied, and 1 

 have original notes taken from time to time of their increase and colonization over 

 our great country." 



This appears to have been only the first of many importations that followed. 



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