1869.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
4r© 
Silver-spangled Hamburgh Fowls. 
The groups of distinct breeds called Ham¬ 
burgh have many points in common, and breed 
•with great uniformity of marking. They are 
recognized as Silver-spangled, Golden-spangled, 
Silver-penciled, Golden-penciled, and Black 
Hamburghs. There are, besides, quite a large 
number of tolerably 
distinct varieties re¬ 
ferred to the Ham- 
burghs, but not rec¬ 
ognized by fanciers, 
such as BoltonGrays, 
Chittaprats, Domin¬ 
iques, Creoles, etc., 
all distinguished by 
close, double combs, 
full neck and saddle 
hackle, a full tail in 
the cocks, blue legs, 
proud carriage, and 
excellence as layers 
—usually, also, by 
having a disinclina¬ 
tion to sit, which, in 
the well-bred fowls, 
is confirmed. The 
difference in the col¬ 
or and markings up¬ 
on the feathers of 
the four breeds first 
named is very notice¬ 
able, and owing to 
their great distinct¬ 
ness, the different breeds of Hamburghs are 
among the most showy and beautiful of fancy 
fowls. Their great value is as layers, and as 
such they are esteemed among the most profita¬ 
ble varieties; but as their useful qualities are 
held secondary to their points of beauty, it 
would not be surprising to find the most beauti¬ 
ful specimens lacking somewhat in that particu¬ 
lar. We give a picture of a pair of Silver-span¬ 
gled fowls belonging 
to Mr. J. C. Sidell, 
of Englewood, N. J., 
exhibiting well the 
peculiarities of the 
variety. It will be 
observed that every 
feather is white, tip¬ 
ped with black. In 
the spangled varie¬ 
ties, this peculiarity 
is constant, and on¬ 
ly one spot occurs. 
There are subvarie¬ 
ties of both Golden- 
spangled and Sil¬ 
ver-spangled fowls, 
marked by a differ¬ 
ence in the shape of 
the spots, as well as 
in the character of 
the birds. In the pen¬ 
ciled breeds, each 
feather has several 
markings or pencil- 
lings. The more per¬ 
fect these are mark¬ 
ed, and the more even the color of the fowl, 
the more highly is it esteemed by fanciers. 
Labor on Farms. —That farmers must em¬ 
ploy more labor is an undoubted fact. That 
there are men enough is equally true. The 
trouble is, that they are not steadily employed. 
During the winter and early spring, there are 
days and weeks when married laboring men, 
living in the neighborhood of farmers, can get 
nothing to do. In the summer, they will ask 
$2.00 a day, and in harvest, $3.00. If they 
could get $26 a month, the year round, they 
would receive more money than they do now, 
and the farmers would get double the work done. 
SILVER-SPANGLED HAMBURGH FOWLS. 
The European or House Sparrow. 
(Passer clomesticus.) 
A few years ago, the trees in the public 
grounds and streets of Hew York and its 
suburbs were so overrun by the span-worm 
that they were more of a nuisance than an or¬ 
nament. “Worm-time” was dreaded by all, 
and many were the devices proposed for externi- 
EUROPEAN SPARROWS. 
inating the span-worm. At last, some one 
introduced the European sparrow, which made 
itself completely at home, and soon proved too 
much for the insects. For the deliverance from 
insects the people have been duly grateful; 
whole villages of bird houses have been built 
for them, food is provided in winter, and their 
lives are especially watched over by the police. 
The fame of the sparrows and the good they 
have done in and around New York has spread 
abroad, and individuals elsewhere, desirous of 
introducing the birds in their own localities, 
have written us concerning them. We have been 
at some trouble to get portraits of the male and 
female bird, which are from life, oue-lialf of the 
natural size. They are so exceedingly lively that 
the artist found 
great difficulty in 
managing them. As 
they are taken in 
an upright position, 
they look less plump 
than wfiien seen up¬ 
on a perch or engag¬ 
ed in picking up 
food. The male is a 
little smaller than 
the female, and is 
more varied in col¬ 
or ; the upper part 
of his head is light 
brownish gray, the 
sides of the neck 
grayish white,throat 
black, back and 
wings chestnut and 
black, with white 
band across the 
wings. The female 
is almost entirely of 
a brownish gray. 
The sparrows are 
very prolific, several 
broods being raised in a year. They are re¬ 
markably domestic, preferring to remain about 
dwellings, and building their nests wherever a 
suitable cavity can be found. The young are 
raised mainly upon grubs and caterpillars, and 
it is estimated that a single pair consume 4,000 
caterpillars in a week. The mature birds con¬ 
sume grain and other vegetable food, which, in 
cities, they find in the droppings of animals 
and elsewhere. It 
is a matter of doubt 
whether the general 
introduction of spar¬ 
rows would be bene¬ 
ficial or otherwise. 
In England, where 
they are numerous, 
it is contended that 
they are the enemies, 
rather than the 
friends, of the culti¬ 
vator, though the 
birds have their ad¬ 
vocates. There is no 
doubt about their 
utility in cities, but 
in the country they 
are charged with 
consuming large 
quantities of grain, 
scratching up seeds 
in the garden, pick¬ 
ing off buds of fruit 
trees in winter, and 
other mischievous 
acts. We have brief¬ 
ly stated the case in favor of and against the 
sparrow. The present price with the dealers is 
$4.00 per pair, for birds said to be imported. 
Those who have them upon their premises are 
unwilling to part with them at any price. They 
readily make themselves at home in a small box 
for a house. In winter, food should be freely 
scattered where they can have access to it. 
