THE ENGLISH SPARROW 



By T. GILBERT PEARSON 



Cfje M^tiomi Hsisiocmtion of ^utrubon ^otittitsi 



EDUCATIONAL LEAFLET NO. 90 



Many kinds of foreign birds have been introduced into the United States 

 with the hope of having them become accHmated to their new surroundings. 

 In many cases this action was taken by persons who doubtless were actuated 

 by the desire to have around them certain forms of bird-hfe that they had been 

 accustomed to see and enjoy about their European homes before migrating 

 to these shores. 



Linnets, Bullfinches, Skylarks, and many other birds, interesting on account 

 either of their singing, or of the striking character of their plumage, have been 

 liberated in the United States and Canada. Game-birds, especially Hungarian 

 Partridges, the little European Quail, and various species of Pheasants go to 

 swell the list of foreign birds that have been brought here to mingle with our 

 native bird-population. As a rule these imported species did not thrive in their 

 new surroundings, and after a short time were seen no more. 



The most striking exception to this rule has been the House Sparrow of 

 Europe, which in this country has acquired the incorrect title of "English" 

 Sparrow. The first importation of these birds appears to have been made in 

 the year of 1850, by the directors of the Brooklyn Institute. Eight pairs were 

 that year liberated in Brooklyn, New York. In a bulletin on the EngHsh Spar- 

 row, issued by the Department of Agriculture in 1889, a statement by the Hon. 

 Nicholas Pike is quoted, in which he gives an account of this early attempt to 

 naturalize English Sparrows in this country. He writes: 



"It was not till 1850 that the first eight pairs were brought from England 

 to the Brooklyn Institute, of which I was then a director. We built a large 

 cage for them, and cared for them during the winter months. Early in the 

 spring of 1851 they were liberated, but they did not thrive. 



"In 1852 a committee of members of the Institute was chosen for the re-in- 

 troduction of these birds, of which I was chairman. Over $200 was subscribed 

 for expenses. I went to England in 1852, on my way to the consul-generalship 

 of Portugal. On my arrival in Liverpool I gave the order for a large lot of 

 Sparrows and song-birds to be purchased at once. They were shipped on board 

 the steamship 'Europa,' if I am not mistaken, in charge of an oflficer of the 

 ship. Fifty Sparrows were let loose at the Narrows, according to instructions, 

 and the rest on arrival were placed in the tower of Greenwood Cemetery 

 chapel. They did not do well, so were removed to the house of Mr. John 

 Hooper, one of the committee, who offered to take care of them during the 

 winter, 



(60) 



