344. TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 
it of late. Nor do we hear of its depredations on growing fruits, 
aud may fairly presume that the real indictment against him con- 
tains but two counts, the first being the destruction of grain, and 
the second the driving away of song birds from their neighborhood. 
As to these charges I will relate my experience and observations of 
these birds for what 1t-may be worth: 
About five years since a small colony of English sparrows came 
to Galena from some neighboring city, presumably Dubuque, and 
found a home under the roof of the Illinois Central freight house. 
Not being disturbed, they raised their young, so that by the follow- 
ing winter they numbered fifty to sixty individuals and acquired the 
freedom of the city. They raided Main street every morning for 
food, which they found principally among the droppings of horses 
along that thoroughfare; and when disturbed by passing teams they 
were accustomed to perch along the telegraph wires overhead. They 
also frequented the grain warehouses to pick up scattered grain. 
They spent their leisure in different small groves in the city, one of 
their favorite resorts being the trees back of the custom house, where 
their merry chatter added much to the pleasures of a sunny winter 
day. It was expected that their presence would prevent the usual 
number of song birds from appearing the next Spring; but we had 
the usual number not only the next, but every subsequent year, not- 
withstanding the large increase in numbers of the sparrows which 
now hold possession of the principal streets in large flocks. We 
have on our premises, which are near the principal business streets, 
boxes for wrens and blue birds, and expected to see the sparrows 
fight for their possession, but such has not yet been attempted; 
every season these boxes are occupied by their old inhabitants, and 
the only fighting is done by these song birds for individual posses- 
sion. 
It is often suggested that we should find an example of mild- 
ness and peacefulness in the birds, but of all sanguinary wretches 
these are chief. One pair of wrens and one pair of blue birds are all 
that can be permitted to live on a city lot. If more than one pair 
attempt it there is a fight, which closes only in the flight or death 
of the weaker party. Often we see bitter fights between blue birds 
and wrens for the possession of some coveted spot, but as yet we 
have seen no sparrow engaged in any fight with other birds. In 
fact, they are seldom on the residence streets, except in autumn, 
when they are attracted by the seeds of the gardens and hillsides. 
They may be on their best behavior here, knowing that they came 
uninvited and exist by toleration. 
No one expects them to eat insects, but like most seed-eaters 
they like an occasional change of diet, and go for a little grasshopper 
sauce. They are hearty and social in their habits, and. would cer- 
tainly be greatly missed if they were blotted out of existence. 
