Page:Bird-lore Vol 05.djvu/176

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European Birds in America

When, within twenty minutesI one can observe, as did the writer in Central Park, on May r7, r903, European Greentinch. European Chal'linch, European Goldﬁnch. European Starling, and European House- Sparrow, from an ornithological standpoint we must surely speak of the European invasion of America, instead of vice-versa.

Although successfully introduced into this country only as recently as 1890, the Starling is already a very abundant perma— nent resident of New York City. During the winter the writer has observed, in the neighborhood of Columhia University, as many asa hundred individuals in one ﬂock. The bird has already extended its range for a radius of some twenty- ﬁve miles about New York City, and in some directions probably farther.

The European Goldﬁnch has not multi- plied so rapidly, but careful Search in Central Park will seldom fail to locate a few of these cheery little songsters. In the winter ﬂocks are formed anti as many as thirty have been seen together—also near Columbia University.

Of both the Chafﬁnch and the Greenﬁnch the writer has been able to find but one individuali The Greenﬁnch was a solitary male observed in the "Ramble," Central Park, on May r7. He was singing con- tentedly and, from the perfect condition of his plumage, gave no evidence of recent captivity. The Cllnﬂinch was the bird~ no doubt familiar to many readers of Btltue Lone—which for some months has never moved from one spot on the west side of the park, about Eightyrﬁflh street. He, too, is a bachelor. well meriting his Latin name of Fringilla (edema

of the ﬁve European birds named, the Goldﬁnch and the Chafﬁnch are the most attractive. ing beautiful plumage, sweet voices and a pleasant disposition, and they built] the

They are fortunate in possess-

neatest little nests; this is more than can

be said of the other speci However. even with these attractions, it is a debatable question whether they are desirable addi- tions to our The May»]une BlRD-LORE informs us that in South Aus» tralia the Cltatﬁuch, which was introduced, has already become so injurious as to be regarded unworthy of protection. As for

the Starling, its rapid increase otters only

avifauna.

too evident proof that it will not be many years before it gains in this country the po- sition which it holds in England, in being second only to its compatriot, the House Sparrow, in dominion over the [and 'I‘hen ill will fare our Bluebirds and ollr Martins, ollr Crested Flycatchers and all others that nest in holes, as do the Wuot‘lpet‘kers of Eng» land, by the persecutions of this pugnacious bird. To be sure he possesses a song. but it is third-rate at best, and the beauties of his plumage can be appreciated only at close quarters: let us only hope that he will not, under the new conditions, change his diet, which at present is chiefly insectivorous, or woe betide the farmer beneath the ravages of his vast winter HoeksliCt G. AKBOFT, New York City.

The Carolina Wren at South Norwalk, Connecticut

After careful inquiry I feel sure that a pair of Carolina Wrens that I saw April 7. 1900. is the ﬁrst known appearance of this bird in Norwalk, Connecticuts Two win- ters of watching other birds of this species makes me certain that the ﬁrst pair seen did not winter, else they would have been seen or heard, as their range has been restricted and one was more sure of ﬁnding them than any other bird,

The spring of [901 a pair of Carolina wrens took up their abode in an old lane bordered by dilapidated stone fences antl hush corners, and though they nested. the discovered. These birds

site was not

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