ENGLISH SPARROWS. 
487 
, PEARS. 
Nothing new was offered, and it was conceded that none but 
the Flemish Beauty would stand the winters, and even that 
was often killed. 
THE CHERRIES 
were allowed to stand as last year. 
ENGLISH SPARROWS. 
Judge Knapp. The subject of insects and the mode of de¬ 
struction, leads to the enquiry as to what would be the effect 
of the insect!verous birds. We have such, but then many^of 
them are also frugiverous, and for that cause they were objec¬ 
tionable. But it was known that the English sparrow had been 
introduced into New Yo-rk city for the purpose of clearing the 
streets of the insects that destroy their foliage. He would like 
to be informed by some one who knew whether they would eat 
any kind of fruit, and whether it was believed they could be 
kept in this state. * 
Mr. Plumb thought the blue jay would destroy them as it 
now does some of the other small birds, especially the young 
ones and the eggs; 
Judge Knapp knew that jay bird, and knew no good of him. 
He was only a thief to rob other birds of their eggs and young. 
He is the origin of the word “ Jay-hawk,” or stealing, as 
known on our Kansas frontier—a word that had its rise in the 
mind of a Wisconsin lawyer, some years back, from this habit 
of the bird. But to return to the sparrow. It was not a mi¬ 
gratory bird, but remained about the houses, wher,e it nested, 
summered and wintered like the domestic fowls, and provision 
would have to be made for its protection. 
Pr. Hobbins remembered the bird in England .but did not 
know of its habits, farther than that it lived about the houses 
and ricks, and ate the grain in winter. He had known boun¬ 
ties to be offered for their destruction. 
Judge Knapp said he was aware of such offers, but he also 
knew that at a later day laws have been passed, both in England 
