carried inland to a large number oi different places. There 'is little doubt that if we 

 could obtain the data relating to the introduction of Sparrows at all points where they 

 are now found in the Mississippi Valley, we should find that by far the larger part of 

 these introductions had been accomplished by English, German, and French citizens, 

 inspired by the recollections of the birds of their fatherland. 



"In addition, the prevailing ignorance of the average American citizen with regard 

 to our native birds, joined to the totally erroneous, or at least grossly exaggerated, 

 reports of the benefits conferred by the Sparrows in New York, Philadelphia, and other 

 Eastern cities, tended to increase the interest which naturally attached to an imported 

 bird, until many persons went to the expense of purchasing and shipping Spari'ows to 

 considerable distances in the belief that they were insectivorous birds and must prove 

 beneficial wherever they could be naturalized. In this way a veritable Sparrow 'boom' 

 was started, and the price of Sparrows in New York went up to such a point that 

 many people desirous of obtaining the birds found it cheaper to club together and 

 import them direct from Europe; while in many cases this was doubtless done from 

 the desire to obtain birds from the neighborhood of the importer's native place, or 

 through distrust of the kind of Sparrow already imported, which, unfortunately, was 

 widely known from the first as the English Sparrow. We can never knovir how many 

 separate importations were thus made, nor how many thousands of individuals were 

 introduced, but it is certain that the number of places thus supplied with birds is much 

 greater than has been supposed, and considering this fact and the rapid rate at which 

 the Sparrow breeds, we ought not to wonder that it has so completely overrun the 

 country." . . 



It is due to the great care and fostering, and the protection that the Sparrows 

 increased to such an extent that they have become a public nuisance. Had the people 

 only turned their love and care to our beautiful native birds, to the lovely Bluebird, 

 the brave Martin, the Robin and Wren, and to our excellent native Sparrows ! How 

 would these beautiful choristers have appreciated such love and protection by their 

 exquisite song and familiarity! But all these useful insectivorous birds were treated 

 with indifference and in many cases they were intentionally driven away and pursued 

 with stones and shot guns. Their breeding places and the nesting boxes, placed on 

 posts and in trees, and the tree holes were occupied by the Sparrows, and at present in 

 the costly and fine parks of our larger cities we hear during the merry month of 

 June no longer the fervent strains of the Wrens, the flute-like melodies of numerous 

 Robins, the sweet warble of the Bluebirds; only the harsh and unpleasant chirping of 

 the Sparrow falls on our ear. The anarchist, tramp, and loafer among birds has taken 

 undisputed possession of the parks and gardens of our large cities and towns, and 

 wherever this "ruffian in feathers" makes its appearance in the country and is allowed 

 to multiply, most of the native birds are forced to leave their haunts. 



When the intention to introduce the Sparrow into North America became known 

 to European ornithologists, they did not hesitate to express their opinion on the sub- 

 ject. This opinion was expressed by the late Pastor W. Thienemann, of Zangenberg, 

 Germany, in the following words : "All ornithological authorities agree that the Sparrow 

 is a very injurious bird, quarrelsome, wily, and of a very low charactei". It does much 



