190 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the place to the successful sparrows. Thus they have driveu out 

 nearly all of our native birds, which are sorrowfully missed from 

 our gardens, fields, and woods. These sparrows go courting in an 

 interesting way. Sometimes twenty gallants will come after one 

 female, paying their attentions like other bipeds, ruffling up their 

 feathers to show themselves off to the best advantage, chattering, 

 fluttering back and forth about her, promising deathless devotion, 

 flattering, pleading, bowing, scraping, but Miss Unwed seems in 

 no haste. When an undesirable party comes too near, she gives 

 him a sharp peek, and he is off, with a sore head and aching heart. 

 But as soon as she makes her choice, the rejected parties all retire, 

 probably congratulating themselves upon their fortunate escape. 

 Wedding festivities are short, and, sad to sa}^ immediate prepara- 

 tions to raise a family are entered upon. Sometimes several broods 

 are raised in a season. They are seen building their nests as early 

 as the last of February, and half-grown birds have been found as 

 late as the last of November. The speaker had often noticed albinos 

 and part albinos among them. This tendency to albinism is far 

 stronger in America than in Europe, especially in the northern 

 parts. It will probably increase, because white specimens are 

 held in high esteem by the female birds. Government reports 

 show the universal disti'ibution of this saucy, quarrelsome, sturdy 

 little rascal, who, like some of our Knights of Labor, will do no 

 useful work himself, and wishes to expel those who are willing to 

 do any. A fight must be carried on continually all along the line, 

 to keep him in check, as we can have no hope to exterminate him. 



On motion of E. W. Wood, a vote of thanks to the essayist for 

 his timelj' and ver}^ interesting paper was uuanimousl}' passed. 



Francis H. Appleton, of the Committee on Publication and 

 Discussion, announced that on the next Saturday, George E. 

 Davenport, of Medford, would present a paper upon "Ferns." 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



Saturday, March 28, 1891. 



An adjourned meeting of the Society was holden at eleven 

 o'clock, the President, William H. Spooxer, in the chair. 

 No business being brought before the meeting it was 

 Dissolved. 



