Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1880 — Stories of the Sparrows [ARTICLE]

Stories of the Sparrows

A nest built by English sparrows was removed from behind one of the shatters of * third-story window on the Penn street frdnt of the Mansion House. The nest was composed of sticks, straws, twigs of trees and rough material ingeniously worked together, while the interior was as soft as elder down, having been cons true ted of feathers, cotton and filaments of silk. The most remarkable feature of this neat, however, ia the fact that it was attached to the shatter by strings, which were entwined around the nest and fastened in such a manner as to displav all the elements of human shill. Unfortunately the neat was not preserved. It would have beea on interesting addition to a collection at natural curiosities. Along the southern wall ot the residence of James JamesoD, Esq ,on North Sixth street, adjoining the Court House, there are some twenty nests which have been built by -English sparrows among the branches of an ivy vi»s- The sparrows have been very nosy for some time in “honse-clean-ing*» had preparing their »e*U for the

summer campaign. They have served flyinguTateiSo 7 with piece, of piece of cotton iTtts'biC andea nowfaS of efforts to leech one of the highest points and caosedtUofrdUo thegroundL *?£ ally In n made bTthe bbrdamp! on the codon, and in a few momenta it was polled to pieces aad each sparrow flew away with a portion. Several Eng. Ush sparrows found n lodging place In n rolled awning in front oft the Goa Bakery on Korth Fifth street, near Washington. Utey entered the awning at the end, and hwd a most secure place during the winter aad spring against cold, wind and storms. In front <3 Mo. 417 Washington street, English sparrows have peeled off all the ban from the dead limbs of n tree, the bark having been used for nest-building. —Reading Times omo Dispatch. A martin who had taken poeeeasion of a bird-box on the property of a citizen of this place sad constructed a neat neat with the view towards raising a family in respectable surrounding, was attacked at his own door by a ruffianly band of English sparrows. The cowardly crew, which outnumbered their victim six to one, fell on him with such vigor that he Was thrown on the ground, prostrate on his back, his eyes blackened, his only salt of clothing ruined, and be would soon been bereft ot life had not the owner of the premises hastened to hie assistance and drove off his assailants. If this thing is pro mi ted to continue the peaceable and orderly portion of the ornithological community, unable to longer endure such treatment, will call an indignation meeting and resolve that they will torn their backs on a town where such proceedings are tolerated. A gentleman who is well acquainted with the characteristic traits of the sparrows says that he hates them like “pizen,” and tnathe>rould contribute any resonable amount from bis private resources toward paving a premium for their distraction, which he hopes may be ordered by our borough fathers at an early "day. The sparrow must go.— West Chester Local Nets*. A short time ago, writes a contributor from Whitby, a friend of mine saw two sparrows—male and female—which evidently had some dispute to settle, as they twittered about each other for some time, then commenced in downright earnestness to fight Being unmolested in this demoralizing game they continued in close combat for several minutes, neither giving in to the other, and to all appearance they had made up their minds to fight until “there was nothing left but their tails.” My friend, having no particular call upon his time, thought he would see the end of the fray, if end there was to be, so he watched the pugnacious bipeds until it was a mutual “give in,” they having fought until they could neither walk or fly. He then quietly walked up and deliberately picked the combatants up, just as he would have picked up any thing lifeless, so powerless were they to get out of his reach.— Land and Water.'