BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



single lot. It is difficult to understand why the 

 Sparrows should have been imported, as there 

 is very good evidence that men were warned 

 against bringing them to this continent. Some 

 ornithologists believe they were confused with 

 the English Hedge Sparrow, which is a wholly 

 beneficial bird in its own country. 



Probably the Sparrows were imported by 

 those who are always looking for something 

 new and give little thought to the possible re- 

 sults. In any case the bringing of this bird to 

 this country has wronged the faithful native 

 birds that are working so well for us. Had the 

 men who imported it not been altogether blind 

 to the results of their action, they must have 

 seen that it could never be classed as an in- 

 sectivorous bird, but was a hearty grain-eater 

 and would aggressively take possession of 

 barns, sheds and stables and drive away native 

 birds. Moreover, they would have seen that 

 it multiplies more rapidly than any other bird, 

 sometimes raising from four to six broods in a 

 year, and each brood consisting of anywhere 

 from four to seven nestlings. In an astonish- 

 ingly short time it spread over all the United 

 States and Canada. And many a Swallow and 

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