FOREST r AND T STREAM. 



261 



THE ENGLISH SPARROW. 

 is tin a KrjBSStKa OB A HlTISAWCE? 



The sparrow question hoa from time to time been die- 



: i in these columns at considerable length, and altiiough 

 toe friends and enemies of this now abundant bird hav 

 wrangled over him so much, no observations have been re- 

 corded which have settled pie point in dispute. 



The following correspondence from the Boston Trmtortpt 

 is of great interesl aa bearing directly upon the point at issue, 

 aud as coming from those whose opportunities for observation, 

 have bi'i'ii exceptionally good. Dr. Brewer has been from the 

 first, S most ardent defender of OUT immigrant andhaS been 

 zealous iii saving all that he could in its favor: 



, Boston. April s:i. isvf. 



.Mm Oaloin, Esq,, City Forester : DearSir -Having taken a deep in- 

 terest in the Introduction into this eountri. ol the House sparrow ol 

 Europe, and white bolding my own convictions, based npon careful Db- 



sei vat s, as to Hie value 01 Ibis bird, and as to the troth "r falsehood 



of thearoiisuiious madergainsi them.;! lake the liheMyto ask you a few 

 questions. I do this because 1 well know iliat your previous knowledge 

 nt the habits of this species, and your dally opportunities ol a closer 

 observation of them than any one else can enjoy since their iiftrodue- 

 ii,,n inn, Boston, give to yonr evidence an Indisputable imporian.o, and 

 turn your oouclnsions far outweigh the erode and liasty opinions ol 

 prejttdU persons « im have urv.-r had the sain- ortunitlee as yonr- 



basis, inn are, therefore, untrustworthy and worthless, rouhave.no 

 • I., ui, i, seen those oft-repeated accusations, all of wiu.il are contrary Hi 

 in> experience. Desiring to know whether I am right or wrong in mV 



. .1,. usions, I lake the libortj ol appealing in y that you limy cor- 



iv.t in •. it I am wrong, and confirm me wherever I may be right. 



Was the Introduction o( 'be Sparrow attended with any marked effect 

 in Bpstpn, In the destruction of insects injurious to themiiagcof our 

 oruaineniai trees on the Common ami elsewhere in the . ii> j 



[lave you any reason to believe that the sparrow is still bencllcial to 



iiiju 



'.is? 



I lie 



• other bird or contend 



ii defence of its own nest or box 1 



Have Mm ii iiui'il any deorease in the numbers of onr native birds 



that visit our eiiy in the summer season J and if so, of what species? 



and no you attribute any decrease tu known adverse aotion ol the Bpar- 



'I'lie Daily Advartt&ir recently asserted as a positive, indisputable fact 

 that the sparrow shows a particular animosity against the robin and the 

 bluebird. If this in- true, it cannot have escaped your notice. Have 

 you witnessed, or have any of your men reported to you, any instance 

 ol said animosity v 



In this matter, with all my own warmly-interested feelings in sym- 

 pathy for and in favor of the sparrow, I desire a full and candid state- 

 ment of your convictions, drawn from yonr own observations, whether 

 they be in support of my views or the contrary. Yours, very sincere!; , 

 Thomas M. Brewer . 



He 



i : i tiit l 







n fami 



i. Sin 



ClTT ITA 



Sir— I an 

 J fully. Youi 

 '1th the habits 



, BOSTON', April 23, 1S7T. 

 erfccly willing to answe 

 ■right in supposing that 



if the span 



e ihei 



) Boat 



■ dune 



n befoi 

 ml thus 



.nt opportuniiies to notice what they do. 

 Their introduction into Boston was immediately attended with great 

 benelll, almost beyond all calculation. The trees on the Common were 

 infested with a nasty yellow caterpillar which destroyed the leaves and 

 bods ol the elms and Other trees; and Ihese insects increased very 

 rapidly, In spite of all that my men could do to destroy them. And, at 

 the South End, the elm trees were eaten every June by swarms of 

 canker worms. Both of these pests have been pretty nearly exter- 

 minated, and the trees, many of which would otherwise have died, 

 have been saved. 



The sparrow is still of great use. But for it, these insects would re- 

 turn, and other pests would attack the trees. Last spring (IsTfi) 

 the liuds of many of 

 were attacked by a g 

 The sparrows soon fot 

 ( 'onsen.. lently the foliage, 

 but for the sparrows, was 



had no wings like the sparrow, who could cling to the 

 th em < 



instead of drylni 



all t 



mid do nothing. The; 



prejudiced against it and who can see 

 verythitig it does, who raised a hue and 

 eating the buds ! Instead of that they we 

 t instead of being thanked for the good the; 

 abused. I believe that the wages of all m 



e Bi i 



a for the 101 



,i|-,l questio 



of the spa 



, I I 



Mill. 



oing, there 

 . good, but 

 ry that the 

 eating the 

 cere doing, 

 men would 



i. the spar* 



ist .-mi.' 



All 



ml it 



rows do not molest or rat 



the robin or bluebird, oi 



summer long they are to. 



be done without my men 



of the kind. 

 I have not noticed any decrease in the numbers of any kind of bird, 



s kinds. The 

 ner than ever 

 us, and seems 

 bit of bread. 



i the 



but, on the contrary, a very marked i 

 robins were more numerous 

 before. The little ehip-sparnj 

 to be very fond of the sparrow 

 The small martins have very ( 

 of the number of boxes. The 

 ever they want one, and drive the I 

 owe came ther 



: impossible for litis to 

 ver witnessed anything 



i last s 



e they ha 



s tal 





all. No- 



were no blue-bin 

 quite common, and often treat the sparrows very In 

 from them their 'boxes, and breaking up their nests, 

 course show light, but the bine-birds arc always to. 



tli'-'.' 



n account 



of when- 

 Ihe spar- 

 bf;coinln» 



ing away 

 arrows ol 



for them. 



I ani all ii 

 a gveal deal I 



and i would b 



myth 



e to prejudice 



(heir IQSS, 



people against them or permit their destruction. 



[Signed] John Galyin, Superintendent. 



On the other hand testimony to the sparrow's idleness and 

 general incapacity in what is supposed to be his particular 



department, conies to us from Indiana in the following note : 



Indianapolis, May 11, 1ST7, 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



I A tew years ago the English sparrow was Introduced here for the 

 purpose of ■■ worming" an.1 " bugging," 



From less than a hundred they are now become thousands, and still 

 the eatlcrpillar swings its nest on the elm and pear tree. The "miller" 

 aits in undiminished numbers about the evening lamp, [n fact, It is 

 believed that these "foreigners" are mere scavengers, alighting upon 



the streets and eating Offal with our common pigeons. And more than 

 this. Ills slid Unit these bllligeieul little fellows have driven an uy 

 most of our native birds. 



Will your readers in Boston. New York,|Plnl;elelphiii and other East- 

 ern cities please give ils, through your paper, their observations in re- 

 gard to those pirates ? If they corroborate those statements, I am in 

 favor of utilizing these usurpers as they do in France, where they are 

 sold by the peck for pot-pie. Aisnuv, . 



We ask earnestly for furl her evidence on this subject, but 

 would remind our correspondents that observations are what 

 are mosl necessary for the settlement of the question, and that 

 theories and opinions tire here of but little value. 



Our correspondent, W. \V., of Brooklyn, in tin article in the 

 Argil*, has recently discussed very pleasanlly certain facts and 

 fancies regarding the sparrow. We know the writer to lie a 

 close and kindly observer, and there is a value and sincerity 

 in his hints. In one respect his statements vary largely with 

 the usual opinions thai have been WlOCgUt into :t serious in- 

 iliciiiuiii against the sparrows, lie, too, insists that they do 

 not drive away oilier birds, and gives instances within his 

 own knowledge where they have lived pleasantly in mixed 

 neighborhoods. We regret that the article is so lung that . we 

 cannot reproduce it here. 



FRESH AND SALT WATER EELS. 



W East Bay, Mich., May if, 1ST:. 



Rtinv.K Forest and stream and Gun and Rod: 



An opinion appears to prevail regarding the habitat of the common 

 Eel, ami from it I am led to believe that they are only found in waters 

 iu direct and close proximity tu the sea, or rather where they may re- 

 turn to salt, or brackish waters for the purpose of spawning. These 

 i.leas are put forth in one of the New York State reports on rasheries. 

 That I know what an eel is when I see it 1 will only aver that I was one 

 of those boys who went "bobbing for eels" nearly twenty years ago. 

 Since then l have found eels in lite Grand River—a stream which emp- 

 ties into Lake Erie from the Canada side near Port f'olborne. They 

 were liikeu at llrantford in the old canal just below the lock gates, this 

 being some sixty or seventy miles above the Wellaud Canal. Surely, 



THE FAUNA OF MICHIGAN. 



BY AUCHETi. 



{GmtirweA i. 



KVMll.V IM B. 



BENDS I.oiiloeil \NES. 



loplkihairm tricolor, llonup. Ulaefc fronted titmouse. An occasional 

 Visitant In lanj wen- plentiful in Eaton and Harry Counties. 



UENUS I'Alll/S. 



Pima alt ,'.■,./.,.. //us. Linn. Black capped titmouse, Eastern Counties, 

 Punt* ..lii.Vin vi-.'v. Ami. Southern or Carolina titmouse. 

 Puraslnidsmucus. I'orst. Hudson's Bay or brown capped chick- 

 adee. Found abundantly in tipper Peninsula ,'nnd around Mackinac. 

 More rare in tower Peninsula. Occasionally seen iu St. Clair and 

 Lapln Counties; possibly-further South. 



HEMS Mf'lTA. 



Sim ettTolinmtis. Lath, While-bellied nuthatch. 

 .miu oanatteiusis. Liuu. Iled-bellled nuthatch. 



Gertlcfa anteticana. Bonap. Brown ci pe 



EAMIl.V I'Ui .. ! on VI !!■ V. 



genus 'rui'.YiirnoRUS. 

 Oi . .,<yi«s. Bonap. Great Carolina wren. 



Thryotharm, bewitUi, Bonap. Long-tailed house wren. Extremely 

 lire. A single specimen front Nile*, Mieltigau. 



GENUS TKOGI.OllVTkS. 



Troglodyte* adon, Vieill. House wren. 



'/'/. ■iil<«i/i/,:: iniirr;,;ii in.*. And. Wood Wren. Obtaiued at Gross Isle, 

 Wayne County. Prot. Wox. 



Troglodytes /.//.",..../«. Vieill. Winter wren." 

 Bumrts lisioriioittrs. 



< , 7m//„, ;/,s xiitiaii,* cab. Short-hilled marsh wren. Seems to be 

 c.miiiie.l to western part of State. 



Of tothorus paltuitria. Bairn. Long hilled marsh wren 



FAMILY MOTACU.l.tn.K. 



(iKNCS AN-rnrs. 

 AmtJats htilovHrUmus, Lieut. Tit lark. American Pipit. 



I Ill- 



did II 



II 'ill 



lalt 



the Niagara lliver. 1 have also taken live real e 

 winter on the Conejos ltiver, one of the Sources • 

 lielng upwards ol a thousand miles from the Gu 

 being taken near there in summer at. the mouth of 

 construct ing the trout ponds of Mr. Baker in We 



,' the Wellaud t 

 eels from the 



ml 1 



Wll.il I 



apply of which ii 



al.eti 



WET WEATHER BIRDS, ETC. 



GAIxsvtr.r.E, Tex., May IS, IsTT. 

 Like your London correspondent («' Inquirer," London, England), I 

 am puzzled to know what your en 'respondent from Houston, Texas, 

 meant by -wet weather birds," mentioned In your issue of February 

 s, 1S7T. From the habit of McCown's bunting (I'la-truphan.* M.-Cmnti) 

 frequenting flat lands in immense numbers, I have surmised that it 

 might be the bird refered to. While collecting eggs this season three 

 Instances of ants destroying eggs have been noted. In one instance 

 the bird was incubating while the ants were eating the albumen wlii.-.h 

 was escaping tldtt^ 1 a hole in the bottom of Hie nest. The other 

 nests had each ^^^Rird's egg, and were likely abandoned. Is this 

 common J G. ll. Kaqspah, 



BIRDS OF THE COTEAU DES PRAIRIES 

 OF EASTERN DAKOTA. 



BY CUARI.BS K. M'CUESNBY, SI. D., C. S. A. 



(Condndtd.) 



Fulitiiila callilmcria. Canvas-Baclt Duck. This duck arrives Aprl 

 IS, and I think 11 probable that a very few remain hare and breed, hut 

 the greater majority continue on their northern llight with little mure 

 than a passiug notice of this region at tins season, ltd urns In the 

 early part of Septemher, and gradually Increases in numbers uuttl the 

 middle Of October. Takes its linal departure on October 30. 



livi-i'iihala clcmguTo. Golden Eye. Arrives April 15, and soon passes 

 on to the uonh about tho 1st of October. Ketones iu considerable 

 numbers ami remains until Oct. 30.. 



luu-i-iihala isluiidu-a. Barrow's Golden Eye. Is seen here for a few 

 days Iroiu April 15 in considerable numbers. 



liiu-e)ihaia utbtnia. Biiille-llead Duek. Puis iu ins appearance iprll 

 II, and in a few days departs, iteturilb about the miijtUe ol September 

 tu remain until October 22. during whlch|iinie it is quite abundant. 



Eriiaiuttura rubida. Ruddy Duck. A few specimens of this. he kin 

 full plumage have bien taken here during June, ft is, however, rare. 



Merijua mertuinjier. Merganser Duck. At any time from April 10 

 until October IM this duck can be fuuud here iu large numbers ; 

 breeds here. 



Meryus nirutlatus. Ilooded Merganser. Is seen for about a week 

 from April UI, aud then passes north, to return October 1 iu small 

 numbers, and disappears October 31. 



fv.'iviturm irarhi/rhi/uL-hu.*. White Pelican. Arrives April 20, and the 

 gieatur majority pays north. A considerable number, however, spend 

 the summer here. Dnrlug the fall migrations it again becomes numer- 

 ous. Departs October SO, 



Oraculus dtloplius. Double-Crested Cormorant. Is found here from 

 April is until October bo in considerable numbers; breeds here; 



Larusaiyeniatii.ivAr.Smit/isu.iianun. Herring Gull. Is found here 

 from April s until October 30 in large numbers ; breeds here. 



I.urus {Chrnwiihulas) atricOla. Laughing Gull. This gull makes its 

 appearance Aprils and remains until October 30. is very numerous ; 

 breeds hen . 



Lio-iis (.Crcmphalua) Franklimi. Franklin's R ay Gull. Arrives 

 here April S, and remains here until Oct.. '.'s. .Not quite so nuiui'ioun us 

 the preceding ; breeds here. 



Sti rna fot*teri. Porster's Tern. Arrives April 20, and remains nutil 

 October 1. Very abundant ; breeds here. 



SfeTna hniindu. Common Tern. Iu found herein largo numbers 

 from April ffll mini Oct. 1 ; breeds here. 



Hydrbehelidon tari/nnnls. Black Tern. Is very abundant from April 

 201111I1I October 1 ; breeds here. 



Cali/mbu* torqvatua. Great Northern Loon. Is seen here in small 

 numbers from October l to October 31. 



Podilymbu* podi'cejis. Pled- Hilled Grebe. Arrives May 1 and remains 

 until October 21. Breeds here; Is abundant. 



TitaintiUii varia. Vieill. Black and while creeping warbler. 



Jl.hiuth.iiis •BwTHfwjes. li, .nap. Worm-eating swamp warbler. 

 rfare visitant lo southern counties. 



GESCS llEI.MINTHOl'HAGA. 



Belmintlwpnagd chrytoptera. Cab. Golden-winged warbler.-* 

 IfekniTUkoptmga rwficapiUn. Bain], Blue-winged yellow warbt#. 

 I trequi-.ni visitor to Southern Michigan. Has been seen as far Soiili 



Helmintliopliaya ruficapilto. Balrd. Nn-nville wnrbler. 

 UcUnintlwjdimja ceUtta. Bair.l. Orauge-crow ned warbler. 



Ucliniittliopltaya />erej//'//i«. Cab. 'Tennessee ivaibler. 



GENUS 1'ARUI.A. 



J-arula amerieama. Bonap. fitue yellow-lmckcd warbler. 



GKNTJS 1'ElilSSOGLOSSA. 



PeriSioglottHa iigriiut. Balrd. Cape May warbler. Very rare. 



GENUS DEXUKOll'A. 



Dondroira irattoa. Balrd. Vellow warbler. 

 Dmdraiea emmata. firay. Vellow-rnmped warbler. 

 Vendroiea mdmtnaa, Balrd, Blaok and yellow warbler. 

 />< e Frotel ... , ...... Baird. White-throated blue warbler. 



Dtndroioa /./,. .■;/,.., ,.;,.:. Balrd. orange-throated or Blackburn's 



VMdTotca-dominiea. Baird. Yellow-throated gray warbler. A single 

 ipeeiinen of l>. dominion, has been taken within the limits of the State. 

 Bendrotoa Pennsylva-nia Baird. Cliostuut sided warbler. 



IH 



HI 



Two- 



:. Clair 



my. 



. . ,. ./..us. Baird. Black-throated green warbler. 

 l>,',idi;,;,-a idittis. Baird, fine creeping wnrbler. 

 DenuVofen kirdimdi. Baird. Iviiitaml's ivarbler. This is doulillul. I 

 latalogne II on the authority ol Rev. H. Charlier. 

 DeMfoicafialmarurh.. Band. Yellow red-polled warbler. 

 /., ,,,?,..,.,. diaeMoY. Baird. Prairie warbler. 



-.'.;.,.,.-:.... e...-.i ; . ///...,. Swain. Gul 

 srinniA novOioraemmg. Nutt. Sm 

 .•■■.•iurus hidi,i:iL-ia,ms. Bouap. Loi 



owned thrush, 

 cd water thrash, 

 water thrush. 



Qporomi* «gUt>, Balrd. Connecticut wnrbler. Rare. 

 (i J ,.„i,r.es.''..i.i....<»s. Baird. Kentucky warbler. Knxe. 



Qml/ilyple tricluvt, Calian. Maryland yellow throat. 

 ,, oildypisirtnhuielplda. Baird. Monining warbler. 



GENET ICTElUA. 



/./e/,.i I'u-ens Baird. Yellow-breasted chat. 1 give Ibis oc 

 uiiiie.i ny of the late Dr. Wtllson. 



Miiindinrt.'s mitratus. And. Hooded waii.ler. 



MiiinJi, „•(.* in/silfits. Bonap. Green bltiek-eapped dy-cateher. 



llyioilloctes ini-uaSensit, Ami. Canada tly-caicucr. 



Seiopliaga rutUiUa. Swain. American red-start. 

 family hirunwnidji. 



Pinijm' sitbis. Balrd. Purple martin. 



OENUS PETIlOCUELlOllN. 



Petrcchetidon hmi/r.in.*. Balril. Clill swallow; eave swallmv. 



GENUS IttUUNllO. 



Binuido horreorwit. Ittiion. Barn swallow, 

 Uiruudu bimlur. Vieill. White-hellied Mvalloiv. 



GENUS STETGIllol'TEK\ X. 



Sfi v./..,'.-.'.'/. i em . i> ..»'.•:. Balrd. Kough-wiuged swallow. 

 . '../«/,' . Iparia. Bole. Bunk swallow, sand martin. 



( To I'f continued.) 



A GAME BIRD INDEED. 



Piiii.Aii£i.i'iiiA, viai r. i.:;. 



Fi.I'l'lilt I'.ulKST AND Stueah : 



While Mr. Miles, of Cape May Conn 

 a swamp recently, he observed two ea 

 log them fall to the ground apparent!. 



together, lie inn to tins 



'scaping from the claw.; 

 ..( the other, took to his wings,liul the other atlai ked si ii. .- ,•■ i 

 v, ho, iii i, ling huuselt withiL club, alter some ditlleulty felled il to I lie 

 ground. Mr- Stiles thinks that il' lie had luu! aeor.l with htm he could 

 have taken it alive, but as be had no means ol seenring bv, h. was 

 forced to kill it. It was sent to me. The eieie is now tit Mr. John 

 Krtder's, who says that it has the largest talons be ever saw on a t.iil.l 

 bead. W. L, Auuorr. 



