I/ 



THE SPARROW'S USEFULNESS IN AMERICA. 93 



spring, I Lave known them to make terrible havoc upon 

 the buds of the small shrubbery in the same locality." 



That the luscious and highly-flavored raspberry is not 

 free from the ravages of these birds, Mr. Anthony 

 Strouse, of Chestnut Hill, is ready to testify. In a con- 

 versation with the writer, in the presence of several wit- 

 nesses, he adds, " During the past season (1877), I was 

 compelled to destroy immense numbers of these birds, in 

 order to save my fruit. At first, I was the friend of the 

 sparrow, and built several houses for its accommodation. 

 But its recent depredations have brought it into bad 

 repute with me. A raid upon my grapes in the fall of 

 1876 paved the way for the proceedings which recent 

 events have compelled me to institute against it. The 

 luscious and juicy strawberry does not escape its 

 ravages. Last June my neighbor's patch was entered 

 and would have been entirely destroyed, had not necessity 

 compelled him to cover the plants by netting stretched 

 upon small upright posts in order to save the fruit, for 

 which the birds showed considerable fondness." 



Isaac Reiff, Esq., of Philadelphia, who has spent the 

 most of his life within the limits of the city proper, and 

 who has given considerable attention to the study of the 

 habits of our birds, says, "Fewer birds visit the city 

 squares and the sidewalks under sparrow rule, than 

 formerly. Our native birds manifested less dread of the 

 squirrels than of the sparrows. On the return of breed- 

 ing period, many of our warblers and finches would 

 stop in their migrations, and spend a few days in the 

 heart of the city. Now, even on its outskirts, the merry 

 chirp and agreeable warble are seldom heard." 



George "Wills, Esq., of Germantown, another inform- 

 ant, and a man of close observation and reliability, has 



