SPARKOW VERSUS NATIVE BIRDS. 95 



Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, of Highland Falls, Orange County, N. Y. 



writes : 



It frequently attacks and drives away the native birds. It has been seen to kill 

 a Yellow-bellied Woodpecker in a back yard at 32 Park avenue, New York City, and 

 also a Robin in Washington Square, New York City. (February 27, 1884.) 



J. Percy Moore, of Philadelphia, Pa., writes : 



* * * The Sparrow is certainly very pugnacious, and I have often seen it attack 

 and chase even such a large bird as the domestic pigeon (October 13, 1885) ; and in 

 July, 1883, two were seen to attack and put to flight a Crow. I have also seen them 

 attack the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (September 10, 1884) and Chipping Sparrow 

 (October 7, 1885). (October 15, 1885. Present nineteen years or more.) 



Henry Stewart, of Hackensack, K J., writes : 



It attacks my young chickens and drives them from their food. (February 5, 1884. 

 Present about fourteen years. ) 



SUMMARY OF THE QUESTION OF SPARROW verSUS NATIVE BIRDS. 



The foregoing examples of evidence have been taken exclusively from 

 original contributions, although numerous equally strong testimonials 

 will be found among the material reprinted from various publications 

 and from both American and foreign sources. There seems, then, to be 

 no possible escape from the conclusion that the Sparrow exercises an 

 important and most harmful influence on our native birds. It is not 

 claimed that in all cases where native birds have become less abundant, 

 or have entirely disappeared from town or farm, the Sparrow is the 

 cause. On the contrary, we know positively that there have been 

 marked changes in the numbers and kinds of birds visiting certain dis- 

 tricts, under such circumstances that it is impossible to attribute these 

 changes to the influence of the Sparrow. The settlement of a country fre- 

 quently 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. Gats, small boys, feather 

 hunters, and similar agencies have aided in the war of extermination. 

 The Bobolink breeds much less abundantly in Xew England now than 

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

 the introduction of mowing machiues and the cutting of hay much ear- 

 lier in the season than formerly, and partly to the wholesale destruction 

 of the species during its migrations. But the fact that all disappear- 

 ances of native birds from town or country can not be charged to the 

 Sparrow in no way lessens its responsibility for such changes as it un- 

 questionably 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 Spar- 

 row? 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. 



