Natural History of District of Columbia — McAtee 49 



starling, a new-comer, sometimes abundant in winter, has 

 also begun to nest in small numbers. 



The English sparrow was introduced into Washington in 

 1871. The following contemporaneous account of the matter 

 may not be entirely pleasing to those who have had dis- 

 agreeable experience with this hardy little stranger. "A 

 flock of imported sparrows was set at liberty in the public 

 grounds in 1871, for the destruction of insects. Each year 

 new cages are placed in the trees for the accommodation of 

 their increased numbers. These useful birds are fed regu- 

 larly every morning during the winter in Franklin, Lafay- 

 ette and other squares.*' 33 



The first list of birds of the District of Columbia, that has 

 so far come to light was published by David Baillie Warden 

 in 1816. (See bibliography below.) It contained 32 species, 

 among them the passenger pigeon, now extinct, and the 

 snowy owl, a rare bird here. 



The beginning of the modern series of lists is that of 

 Coues and Prentiss of 1861. It contains 225 species. Jouy 

 increased this to 230 in 1875, and to 240 in 1877. The second 

 edition of Coues and Prentiss's work in 1883 contained 248 

 species. No other list appeared during the next 15 years, 

 in which period a number of additions to the District 

 avifauna were noted, the total number of species reaching 

 284 (See bibliography) as recorded by Richmond in 1898. 

 This number is increased by one in Cooke's list of 1908, which 

 omits one living species listed by Richmond, the true total, 

 therefore, being 286. The introduced starling (Stumus 

 vulgaris), which has been seen in numbers in and about the 

 District since 1913 (a number breeding in 1917), is a species 

 not included in any of the published lists. The European 

 skylark and white-runted sandpiper also have been recently 

 observed. As noted in previous pages, the ivory gull, 

 trumpeter swan, and white ibis are additional species which 

 have been recorded as visitants to this region but for which 

 there are no definite records. 



^Keim's Illustrated Handbook. Washington, etc., 1874, p. 39. 



