i 3 o NATURE-STUDY 



only did it become established, but, finding conditions so agree- 

 able, as do many other immigrants, it thrived and soon spread 

 throughout the East and Middle West, and is on its onward 

 march across the continent. Not only is it to be seen in al- 

 most every village and city, but it has even invaded the rural 

 regions. Now, if the expectations of those who introduced 

 the bird had been realized, it would be well. But, unfortu- 

 nately, the sparrow is not as insectivorous as was hoped, and 

 has the habit of eating grain. He is a pugnacious little bird, 

 and will drive away other and more desirable birds, like the 

 robins, bluebirds, swallows, wrens, etc. He pre-empts the 

 bird houses we put up for these birds, and has been 

 known to destroy their nests, eggs, and young. He is a 

 nuisance generally in that he clogs up rain-spouts on the 

 houses, or builds his rather unsightly nests in all kinds of 

 nooks and on all kinds of protected cornices and mouldings, 

 and soils the houses with his roosting places. Moreover, 

 the shrill, monotonous chirping of the sparrow becomes very 

 tiresome. All these things have caused a revulsion of feeling 

 against the sparrow, and now there are frequent and serious 

 proposals and even attempts to destroy him by wholesale, by 

 snaring and poisoning and the destruction of eggs. But 

 these attempts are hopeless now that the bird has spread. 

 The English sparrow has come to stay, and we must pay 

 the penalty for bringing him here by enduring his an- 

 noyances. 



There is, however, this to be said in favor of the house 

 sparrow. He frequents the busy streets that would be 

 avoided by other birds, and he enlivens them by his presence. 

 Then, too, he does eat insects to a certain extent, and these 

 are chiefly the diet of th nestlings. Sparrows also eat a large 



