326 THE ENGLISH SPARROW IN AMERICA. 



birds is riot inconsiderable. But, gentlemen, bear in mind, if you please, that the grain 

 devoured is but a tithe of that wasted. For instance, a Sparrow lights on a stalk, 

 or possibly will grasp two or more stalks in its claws; the perch, although quite strong 

 enough to sustain the bird's weight, will oscillate from the weight of the foreign body. 

 Such an unsteady resting place compels the bird, in order to sustain its position, to 

 almost continually flap its wings. This, in connection with the violent mandibular 

 action, occasions many pellets of grain for every one eaten to be showered on tho 

 ground. 



In closing this article, I would earnestly solicit, for the extermination of these 

 "white elephants," the co-operation of the farmer, because to him it is of great 

 practical utility that they be destroyed. To the practical non-closet naturalist, the 

 potent need for their immediate eradication is positive. We ask all lovers of birds — 

 and who among us do not admire, nay love, the native songsters — to lend their aid, 

 and speedily, too, that some means may be devised for the blotting out of this un- 

 looked-for bane. 



[Essay read March 18, 1880, by Dr. B. H. Warren, before tbe West Chester (Pa.) Microscopical 



Society.] 



This much talked of and written about bird I again call your attention to, even at 

 the risk of tiriug the patience of some of my hearers. Amoug our members there are 

 not a few who consider the Sparrow a curse to the community and a bird which, if it 

 ever did do good, has " long since outlived its usefulness." 



Some years ago, by a well-disposed, estimable, and well-known resident of this place, 

 six or seven Sparrows were obtained and conveyed to our borough, which at that 

 time was the abode of many native song and insectivorous birds. Their arrival was 

 heralded with joy by our citizens (except a few knowiug ones who shook their heads 

 and observed, "You'll be sorry for this in a few years"), some of whom forthwith 

 erected a commodius box in the court-house yard for their protection against inclem- 

 ent weather, mischievous boys, and prowling cats. 



The little " pets" (as they were then called) were confined in this convenience and 

 regularly fed and watered by their doting admirers for about ten days, when they 

 were liberated. At irregular intervals after this, for a peried of nearly two mouths, 

 they returned to the box for food and shelter. Gradually, however, the visitations 

 became fewer and fewer, until finally they ceased. These pioneer Sparrows for sev- 

 eral months displayed marked timidity as, well as an eagerness to keep secluded. 

 They roosted in the evergreen trees in the court-yard. One or two years rolled on 

 without much authentic information being obtained relative to them. By way of ex- 

 planation it may be stated that the word "authentic" before information is used, not 

 but that it is true many reports, both newspaper and verbal, were current in regard 

 to the " new birds," but the writer is also aware that our migrants and natives, other 

 than the most common and well-known species, such as the wren, catbird, robin, etc., 

 from the size of a sparrow-hawk (F. sparverius) to that of a kinglet (Fegulus satrapa 

 or calendula), were denominated by the uninitiated yet loquacious observer, " En- 

 glish Sparrow." After the lapse of the time above specified they were frequently 

 seen in small parties about the borough. Immediately, to meet the needs of these 

 insectivorous (?) birds, several of our kind-hearted towns-people built boxes for their 

 benefit. They were soon followed by others, until many of the shade and fruit trees 

 of West Chester were ornamented or disfigured by costly bird-box architecture or 

 rusty tin fruit-cans, pans, and stove-pipes. 



These efforts of our citizens, whether rich or poor, high or low, were lauded by the 

 press, and so assiduously were the occupants of said domiciles guarded by night as 

 well as by day that the ubiquitous small boy was put to his utmost to secure the 

 coveted and at that time marketable egg. 



The prolific Sparrows, as residents for four years, began to show, oven to certain 

 of their supporters, that they were not as useful as it was said they would be. 



