100 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



apparent. But the compensating good which is experi- 

 enced in Europe could never be attained, therefore it is 

 highly probable that the amount of good accomplished 

 would be more than balanced by the evil committed. 



On the introduction of the sparrow into Philadelphia, 

 which was about the time when nature was begin- 

 ning to swarm with insect life, being a stranger in a 

 strange land, it naturally took to eating indiscrimi- 

 nately everything that came within its reach. Insects, 

 especially caterpillars of particular kinds, being very 

 plentiful, and easily obtained, fell ready victims to its 

 rapacious appetite. Horse-dung and street garbage 

 eventually came in for a share of attention. In a brief 

 time, on account of the eminent services which they had 

 rendered in the destruction of that pest of vegetation, 

 the canker-worm, this little creature had securely estab- 

 lished itself in the public affection. Houses, both public 

 and private, by the hundreds, some of the most costly 

 architecture, began to appear in every direction. Chari- 

 ties poured in upon them from every source, and the 

 gullible Philadelphian soon commenced to lavish more 

 than usual attention upon these creatures of foreign ex- 

 traction. The birds often fared much better than their 

 poor human brethren. These fancied "saviors of vege- 

 tation'' finally became well-housed and well-fed. Their 

 good qualities were loudly applauded, and the law was 

 constrained to throw around them its regis of protec- 

 tion. 



But a change soon came over the aspect of affairs. 

 Too much pampering had engendered a spirit of laziness. 

 Accustomed to an easy life, the birds assembled three 

 times a day to receive their allowances of food. The 

 results of such folly soon began to be apparent. The 



