SONG-BIRDS. Crossbfll
Theodore Wood, in his instructive little b00k,—“0ur Bird Allies,’”—devotes two chapters to an unprejudiced review of the Sparrow question, which are well worth read- ing, in which he quotes Pre’vost-Paradol and many other authorities. “What wonder,” he says, “if the Sparrow, both in America. and New Zealand, should turn from a diet of insect to one of grain and fruit? Does not even man himself alter his food in accordance with the climate? Does he not, leaving England for a warmer country, depend more upon vegetable food and less upon animal? ”
It is not the grain that he consumes that makes us at war with the Sparrow, but because he steadily puts to rout our most familiar birds, destroys their young, and gives us only his ugly chirp in the place of their songs, and his useless presence instead of their insect—consuming powers. The destruction of the Sparrows, eggs and nests, is now almost universally approved in the United States. Dr. 0. Hart Merriam of the Department of Agriculture, Wash- ington, has prepared a. consensus of reports from many sources, containing evidence for and against the Sparrow, -—-168 being for, 837 against, and 43 neutral. The report also contains a list of native birds that have been more or less molested by the Sparrow, among which are not only the Wrens, Bluebirds, and Martins of our garden bird- hoxes, but the valiant Kingbird, the Horned Lark, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, the Mockingbird, Purple Grackle, Meadowlark, and many Woodpeckers.
American Crossbill: Lowia curvirostra minor.
Pure 27.
Length: 6 inches.
Male: General colour Indian red. Head shaded with olive. Back and shoulders brown with red edgings to the feathers; wings and tail brown. Beak crossed at the tip.
Female : General colour greenish yellow. Dull yellowish tian on the head, throat, breast, and rump. Wings and tail brown with lighter edges to some feathers.
1 New York, E. h J. B. Young 6: Co. 137
