EFFECTS ON THE CHIPPING SPARROW. 93 



ENGLISH SPARROW versus CIIIPPIXG SPARROW. 



One of the birds which suffers most is the Chipping Sparrow (Spizella 

 socialis), which in some localities seems to have been driven completely 

 away by its foreign relative. 



Naturally confiding in its disposition, it was accustomed before the 

 advent of the English Sparrow to pick up the crumbs about our door- 

 yards and to build its little hair-lined nest in the rose and >ilac bushes 

 under our windows. But already this is a thing of the past in most 

 towns and cities, and there is no escape from the conclusion that the 

 English Sparrow is mainly responsible for the change. 



More than seventy observers testify to the attacks on the u Chippy," 

 and but two reports have been received which mention even partial 

 success in resisting. 



Dr. A. P. Sharp, of Baltimore, Md., writes: 



I have been a close observer of the English Sparrows since they first made their ap- 

 pearance on my place, in Kent County, Md. I am a great admirer of the little wrens, 

 martins, and House Sparrows, as we call them (S. socialis), and felt an interest in 

 them. Having martin boxes near the house, as well as boxes for the Wrens and Blue- 

 birds, I had a good chance to watch the new-comers, and can say without hesitation 

 that I think they are the greatest nuisance ever introduced in our country. Xot with- 

 standing I have been for years shooting them whenever I can get a chance, they have 

 nearly exterminated the Wrens and Sparrows, and lessened the number of Martins 

 arid Bluebirds. Tbe young Wrens, Sparrows, and Bluebirds are destroyed as soon as 

 they are hatched. While the parents are looking for food, the English Sparrows will 

 go to the boxes and pull out the young, featherless birds and kill them. With the 

 House [Chipping] Sparrow I have known them not only to kill the young the first day 

 they were hatched, but to tear up the nests in a few minutes. For years I have 

 encouraged the little Chippy to build her nest in my honeysuckle, but last year I had 

 not a single nesfc near the house. I had two in 1885, and tried every way to protect 

 them, but the young were destroyed as soon as hatched, and the nests were torn to 

 pieces. (February 16, LS87.) 



F. B. Welsh, of Philadelphia, Pa., writes : 



On the 17th instant, I noticed five English Sparrows pecking at a young Chipping 

 Sparrow. The latter was able to fly (as I subsequently ascertained) about twenty 

 yards at a time. The Chipping Sparrow would offer a feeble resistance and then fly 

 two or three feet. Tire English Sparrows would follow and take turns in peeking at 

 it. They had pulled out about one-third of the feathers on its head, which was bleed- 

 ing slightly. There was also a small bare place on its back. The Chippie invariably 

 faced its enemies until he had received several pecks and then flew off to one side. 

 Many other English Sparrows were in the trees near by, but took no notice of the 

 affair. As soon as I went up to the young bird the parents came fluttering round, 

 probably attracted by its cry. While the English Sparrows were about I did not hear 

 a sound from it. Another young Chippie, about fifteen yards off, had nearly all of its 

 bead feathers and a few of its body feathers pulled out. (August 9, 1887.) 



It is scarcely surprising that after such treatment as this the Chipping 

 Sparrow is not as abundant as formerly about our houses and gardens 



THE SPARROW " MOBBING " OTHER BIRDS. 



The Eobin is often attacked and robbed of his food by the enterprising. 

 Sparrow, as is shown by the testim ny of many witnesses. 



