70 ENGLISH SPARROW. 



On the contrary, we know positively that there have been marked changes in the numbers 

 and kinds of birds visiting certain districts, under such circumstances that it is impossible 

 to attribute these changes to the influence of the Sparrow.. The settlement of a country 

 frequently causes great changes in its bird life. The rapid growth of towns and cities, 

 without a corresponding increase in parks and gardens, has done much to diminish the 

 number of birds. Cats, small boys, feather hunters, and similar agencies have aided in 

 the war of extermination. The Bobolink breeds much less abundantly in New England 

 now than it did twenty-five years ago, but this is well known to be due partly to the 

 introduction of mowing machines and the cutting of hay much earlier in the season 

 than formerly, and partly to the wholesale destruction of the species during its migra- 

 tions. But the fact that all disappearances ot native birds ii-om town or country can 

 not be charged to the Sparrow in no way lessens its responsibility for such changes as 

 it unquestionably has caused. 



"On the other hand, many of the most stalwart champions of our native birds 

 are not altogether free from blame for their partial disappearance. In how many cities 

 of the Union were native birds carefully protected and encouraged to build their nests 

 before the introduction of the Sparrow ? It is certain that in many cities hundreds or 

 even thousands of boxes were provided for the introduced Sparrows, where scarcely a 

 dozen had been given to native birds. 



'•In many cases this superabundance of nesting places so suddenly provided will 

 account for the actual increase of native birds in spite of the presence of the Sparrows ; 

 and such cases have naturally misled many candid observers, who recognized the facts 

 without considering all the conditions. As bearing on this point we cite a part of Dr. 

 J. A. Allen's remarks before the Nuttall Ornithological Club, at a meeting held in Cam- 

 bridge, Mass., early in 1878. All of Dr. Allen's remarks were of great interest and 

 value, and should be read with care by every one interested in the Sparrow question. 

 We quote here from the report printed in the Boston Evening Transcript of March 19, 

 1878, but select only the parts referring to the Sparrow's relations to native birds: 



' The destruction of a few caterpillars Mr. Allen regarded as almost the sole good that can be adduced 



in their favor. Their presence in small numbers, and especially in winter, is indeed cheery and pleasant; but, 

 when in force, their harsh chatter becomes a positive nuisance, and even in summer renders the notes of other 

 birds singing in neighboring trees almost indistinguishable. In regard to the unfavorable side of the score, 

 the list of charges is a long one, and the greater part are too well attested to admit of reasonable doubt. 

 'First in the list is their unfavorable influence upon our native birds. Ordinarily, so far as his observa- 

 tions extend, he believed that they were not violently aggressive, but readiiy became so whenever there was 

 a conflict of interest and occasionally without provocation. The little Chipping Sparrows commonly associate 

 with them on terms of intimacy and harmony, and rarely had he seen them pursue or attack other birds 

 when meeting with them at a distance from their own domiciles. But that they do, by their abundance and 

 petulance, tend to crowd out and supplant our native birds seems nearly unquestionable, since the latter dis- 

 appear wherever the House Sparrows become abundant! Upon such species as have a preference for nesting 

 sites similar to their own, they do exert, however, a most positive influence. These are Bluebirds, White- 

 bellied Swallows, Purple Martins, and Wrens — birds of attractive ways, agreeable notes, and highly insec- 

 tivorous in their diet. When the Sparrows were first introduced into Cambridge, probably at least a dozen 

 bird-houses were put up to each pair of Sparrows. The result was that the native species just mentioned 

 found abundant nesting places, and at once became more numerous than formerly. As the Sparrows rapidly 

 increased, they very naturally possessed themselves of the bird-boxes and forced their former occupants else- 

 where. He cited the following instances as having fallen under his observation : Three years ago no less 

 than three pairs of Wrens and as many pairs each of Bluebirds and White-bellied Swallows raised their 



