86 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 



NEGATIVE EVIDENCE. 



A very few observers are still skeptical about the alleged attacks on 

 other birds, and occasionally a correspondent appears to be convinced 

 that the Sparrow is innocent of all such crimes charged to it. 



Dr. H. A. Hagen, of Cambridge, Mass., writes : 



I have never seen it molest other birds ; indeed in the next street, in a house with 

 one entrance. Swallows and Sparrows brooded together, and both had young. I have 

 seen the Sparrow driven out of its house by Bluebirds. (April 13, 1884. Present 

 about eleven years.) 



Ferdinand Schumacher, of Akron, Ohio, writes: 



I bave notvobserved it to molest other birds. A bird-house in my yard, occupied 

 for several summers by Martins, was invaded and occupied early in the spring by the 

 Sparrows; but with one or two individual exceptions they were driven out by the 

 Martins. The remaining one or two families occupied the house jointly and peace- 

 ably with the Martins. (October 25, 1886. Present about eleven years.) 



The late Prof. Chas. Linden, of Buffalo, N. Y., wrote in 1885 : 



I do not believe that there ever will be an authenticated, true report of a battle 

 between Sparrows and our native birds, excepting, perhaps, with the White-bellied 

 and Barn Swallows. I have observed them pilfering tbe angleworm gains of the 

 Robin, which otherwise, like the aggressive Bluebird, is well able to take care of it- 

 self. 



Another observer is equally positive, and says : 



I do not believe the Sparrow r drives away any of our native birds. I speak from 

 careful observation, and they are just as plentiful here now as before the advent of 

 the Sparrow. I have never seen the Sparrows band themselves together for attack, 

 and am satisfied they do not do it. It is pair against pair. The assertion that they 

 attack other birds in a body is sheer nonsense ; no such thing is known in natural 

 history of any species of bird. 



As bearing on this last point, that the Sparrow does not attack other 

 birds in numbers, the following testimony may be of interest : 

 From Jesse G. Case, Peconic, Suffolk County, N. ¥. : 



It has driven off our Martins. They have a fight every spring, and the Sparrows 

 succeed by force of numbers. Sometimes a dozen Sparrows will surround one Mar- 

 tin. (1885.) 



From the postmaster at Jamestown, Eussell County, Ky. : 



The Bluebird and Black Martin attempt to reclaim former nesting sites, but are 

 attacked by the Sparrows in squads, and routed. (October 27, 1886. Present four 

 years. ) 



From H. Harris, Union Springs, Bullock County, Ala. : 



The Sparrows will not singly attack any bird, but usually unite in an army to do 

 their work. I have known them to kill out at least a dozen pairs of Martins, young 

 and old, at a single attack. (September 17 and 24, 1886. Present about six years.) 

 From John J. McDannold, Mount Sterling, Brown County, 111. : 

 The Martin and Bluebird always try to reclaim former nesting sites, but never 

 succeed, because of re-enforcements, the Sparrows flocking in great numbers to the 

 assistance of a distressed brother or sister. Though the Martins and Sparrows are 

 bitter enemies, it is nearly always some nesting difficulty that causes trouble between 

 them. (September 4, 1886. Present about three years.) 



