78 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



From this .period to the spring of 1877, very little was 

 written about the sparrow, excepting the writer's work 

 on the Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania. The many unen- 

 viable traits of character which this species possesses were 

 nevertheless matters of daily observation and conversa- 

 tion. After Dr. Brewer's return from Europe, where he 

 had been making a rather protracted visit, the sparrow- 

 question is again revived, and these much-abused and 

 scandalized creatures find a firm friend and staunch 

 defender. In the "Washington Gazette, bearing date 

 June, 1877, the doctor substantially affirms that robins 

 were more plentiful in Boston than ever before, being 

 ten times more numerous than they were a decade 

 since; that bluebirds now abound, which were recently 

 unknown ; that white-bellied swallows, chipping spar- 

 rows, and purple martins have appeared in legions; and, 

 finally, that "each year adds new species, even such 

 forest-birds as the yellow-bellied woodpecker." 



In "The American Cultivator" for August, 1877, 

 similar views are expressed by this indefatigable writer, 

 clinched by the opinions of John Galvin, Esq., the City 

 Forester of Boston. 



The last-named gentleman, in reply to certain questions 

 which were submitted to him by Dr. Brewer, April 23, 

 1877, affirms without hesitation that " the sparrows do 

 not molest or interfere with any other bird. They do 

 not trouble the robin or bluebird, or manifest any ani- 

 mosity against either. All summer long they are to- 

 gether, and it would be impossible for this to be done 

 without my men or I noticing it, yet I never witnessed 

 anything of the kind." 



"I have not noticed any decrease in the numbers of 

 any kind, but, on the contrary, a very marked increase 



