94 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



devoted considerable attention to the study of the spar- 

 row in its new home. He remarks, " Its insolent bear- 

 ing towards our native birds, whenever the latter venture 

 into occupied territories, combined with its lazy, idolent 

 habits and destructive propensities, should be a sufficient 

 inducement for the authorities to rescind the laws passed 

 for its protection." 



Other statements, equally as forcible and positive, 

 could be given, until the accumulated evidence would 

 cover hundreds of pages of closely printed matter, and 

 all from persons of known probity who occupy high 

 positions in this community, but the writer must forbear. 

 Negativing the foregoing assertions, might be mentioned 

 the observations of Philip Freas, editor of the " German- 

 town Telegraph," a weekly paper of moderate circula- 

 tion), and those of John Bardsley, Esq., to whom must 

 be attributed the honor of introducing the sparrows into 

 Philadelphia. Mr. Freas has taken very little part in 

 the discussion of the sparrow-question, but what he has 

 said upon the subject is confined to a small article which 

 appeared in his paper a few years ago. His remarks 

 mostly related to personal observations upon his own 

 premises. Substantially, he asserted that the sparrows 

 did not molest or interfere in any way with our native 

 birds, but dwelt upon the most intimate and friendly 

 terms with them, sparrows, robins, and bluebirds 

 building in close proximity to each other. Mr. Bards- 

 ley's interest in the sparrow must certainly be attri- 

 buted to the part which he played in its introduction. 

 It is, therefore, but natural that he should defend it 

 against the attacks of its human enemies. Substantially, 

 he says the sparrow is not more pugnacious than many 

 of our native birds, the robin for example, and if so, it 



