USES OF THE SPARROW.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3295, 14 July 1879, Page 2

USES OF THE SPARROW.

We are sorry that sparrows are still regarded as enemies by many of our village husbandmen; thus the overseers are yet empowered by the vestry meeting to pay one halfpenny per head for all destroyed. It is a pity we have not yet learned more humanity, for, without doubt, this, persecuted bird is one of the be»t friends to both the gardener and farmer. A calculation has been made that a pair of sparrows destroy, nearly; 4000 caterpillars per week, besides other insects, when rearing their young. When cockchafers abound, which happens periodically, they would speedily become. • perfect pest but for the sparrow;, it i» true the rook destroys an immense Quantity, yet it should be remembered the despised sparrow has access to gardens and other small enclosures where, the rook is denied access. The sparrow, fortunately, does more for,. pur house comforts, for he destroys one of our greatest pests, the common house-fly, which, were it not for his persistent efforts, would multiply to an alarming extent. Scarcely anything in the shape of insect food comes amiss, for he is a voracious feeder, therefore he should be regarded more as a friend than a foe.— Gardener*' Chronicle.