34: THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



fourteen birds were released in Central Park by the 

 Commissioners. Others were subsequently brought from 

 England by different individuals, and set free at Jersey 

 City. The latter have since multiplied so rapidly that 

 their offspring have spread to adjoining towns, and are 

 now social residents in all the large cities and towns 

 around New York, as well as in every portion of that 

 great metropolis itself. 



It was not, however, until 1868 that the sparrow was 

 introduced into Boston. Two hundred birds were then 

 purchased in Germany, by the city government, but 

 only about twenty reached their destination. These 

 were released in the month of June, but, unfortunately, 

 several died from disease, or from weakness induced by 

 sea- voyage ; the remnant disappeared. In the ensuing 

 summer others were brought over, only ten of which 

 survived. The survivors were carefully housed and 

 nourished, and only restored to freedom when in ex- 

 cellent condition. Released from confinement, they 

 quickly flew away, and nothing was seen of them for 

 several months, when, unhappily, they turned up in the 

 southern part of the city, whither they had betaken 

 themselves. In the immediate vicinity of stables, for 

 which they apparently manifested a preference, they 

 built their houses and reared their families. There 

 the} 7 remained until the approach of winter, when they 

 returned to the city to the number of one hundred and 

 fifty, where they were regularly fed by the city-forester 

 each day in the Deer Park. At night they roosted in 

 the thatched roofs of the buildings. 



Near the close of the winter of 1869 these birds were 

 brought to Philadelphia. To John Bardsley, Esq., of 

 Germantown, belongs the credit of their introduction. 



