For example, Colonel William Rhodes, of Quebec, Canada, introduced Sparrows 

 at Portland, Maine, in 1854. Other men brought some to Peace Dale, Rhode 

 Island, in 1858. In 1860 twelve birds were liberated in Madison Square, New 

 York City; and four years later they were introduced into Central Park. In 1866 

 200 were -set free in Union Park, New York City. Forty pairs were brought to 

 New riaven, Connecticut, in 1867. Twenty Sparrows were turned loose in Boston 

 Common in 1868. In 1869 the City Government of Philadelphia bought over one 

 thousand Sparrows. In the same year twenty pairs were brought to Cleveland, 

 Ohio, and sixty-six pairs were taken from New York to Cincinnati. Shortly after 

 this they were introduced in San Francisco. 



It will be seen, therefore, from the above records, which are not at all com- 

 plete, that the present population of English Sparrows did not develop in this 

 country from a single importation, as has sometimes been stated. 



Their appearance seems to have been hailed with delight by the people of 

 the country generally, for many records tend to show that after they once became 

 fairly well established in the East, there sprang up a regular Sparrow craze, for 

 the birds were captured and taken to scores, if not hundreds, of places in different 

 parts of the country. 



Not only were they distributed artificially, but the birds also spread rapidly 

 by their own initiative. Their progress was made chiefly along the highways, 

 where the droppings of horses furnished an abundant supply of half -digested 

 grain, and along the railroads where the grain-cars, particularly in autumn, were 

 continually scattering food along the right-of-way. 



At the present time there are comparatively few communities in the United 

 States or in southern Canada where the English Sparrow is not well known, and 

 probably it is the most numerous species of bird in North America. It is chiefly 

 a bird of the cities and towns, and is usually not found in abundance in the thinly 

 populated parts of the country. In the autumn, however, when the Sparrows are 

 most numerous, owing to the recently reared broods, and in cities where the Spar- 

 row population is already at its maximum, many of these birds are naturally forced 

 out of the cities and towns in quest of food. 



In no way does the English Sparrow show its fondness for living near human 

 habitations more than in its nesting-habits. Unlike other Sparrows, it rarely, if 

 ever, constructs its nest in woods, thickets, or fields at any considerable distance 

 from a house. During the breeding-season the birds swarm in the towns and cities 

 and there, in crevices about buildings, in water-spouts, or in boxes put up for the 

 convenience of other birds, it makes its home. The hollow of trees are frequently 

 used for this purpose. When such nesting-sites are no longer available, owing to 

 overcrowding, they will build bulky, covered, and ill-looking nests among the 

 branches of shade trees. The nesting material used consists of straw, grass, twigs, 

 rags, fragments of paper, or feathers ; in fact, almost any substance that may easily 

 be carried seems to be regarded by these birds as suitalile material for nest-making. 



The eggs are spotted, and usually range in number from four to six. Two or 



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