306 BIRDS OF ONTARIO. 



always be borrowed conveniently to stop the sparrow holes. In 

 other cases, when a building bore a financial burden and repairs of 

 any kind received but little attention, I have seen as many as twenty 

 pairs of sparrows with their nests among the thatch of one roof. 



In America the bird was unknown till 1850, when the Directors 

 <.)f the Brooklyn Institute imported eight pairs into Brooklyn, N.Y. 



This lot did not thrive, and in 1852, a much larger consignment 

 "was brought from England by the same parties. These were kept 

 in confinement over the winter, and in the spring of 1853 they were 

 all let loose in the grounds of Greenwood Cemetery, where they 

 did well and multiplied rapidly. There seems to have been a wild 

 craze on this subject just then, for many other shipments were made 

 by individuals in different parts of the country, all of which have 

 no doubt helped to swell the grand army which is now looked upon 

 as a scourge to the agriculturists, and one which is entirely beyond 

 control. 



It was, I think, in 1875 that the first sparrows were observed on 

 the streets in Hamilton. The fact was made known to the City 

 Council, who, being always ready to encourage desirable settlers, at 

 once provided a handsome, commodious house for them in the Gore 

 Park, and arrangements were made to have them regularly fed and 

 made as comfortable as possible. But the sparrows, unused to so 

 much kindness, seemed afraid that there was some trap about the 

 house, or poison in the food, and betook themselves to the roadtraoks 

 for food, and found nesting -places of their own choice. They 

 increased so rapidly in numbers that the house was taken down, and 

 the birds were allowed to shift for themselves. 



My own experience with these birds was similar to that of others, 

 but may here be repeated as illustrating their introduction to the 

 ■country. It was in the summer of 1874 that I first noticed a pair of 

 these birds about the out-houses, and in a few days they became 

 quite familiar, having evidently made up their minds to stay with us. 

 I made them welcome for old acquaintance' sake, and thinking they 

 would make good settlers, was about to put up a house for them ; 

 but before my well-meant intentions were carried out, it became 

 apparent that they were providing for themselves in a manner quite 

 •characteristic. 



On a peak of the stable was a box occupied by a pair of swallows, 

 who were at that time engaged in rearing their young, and of this 

 box the sparrows seemed determined to get possession. The swallows 

 resisted their attacks ^t'ith great spirit, and their outcries bringing a 



