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- Sparrows
South Australia - Flora and Fauna
Sparrows
For its introduction to the Mount Gambier district see under Place Names - Mount Gambier
The introduction of the bird into South Australia, etc, is discussed in the Advertiser,
12 August 1869, page 2f,
22 October 1869, page 3g; also see
Observer,
6 November 1869, page 9a.
"The Coming of the Sparrow" is in the Register,
21 July 1915, page 8f.
An article on sparrows is in the Register of
23 October 1869, page 3d,
15 November 1869, page 3b:
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The few specimens that have found their way here have been welcomed, cherished and encouraged to do their best to replenish the earth. A cosy nursery has been found for them at the Botanic Gardens.
Also see 7 and 29 August 1871, pages 7b and 6c,
7, 8 and 14 December 1874, pages 6c, 6c and 5e,
13 January 1875, page 6d - "This so called pest has at least one redeeming point - he is fond of locusts".
A humorous letter headed "Those Impudent Sparrows" is in the Register,
15 February 1876, page 7c:
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They do not even reward us with a song, while their size precludes the use of them in a pie.
On 15 November 1876, page 6f of the Register it is said that:
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The first lot of sparrows were hatched at the Botanic Gardens and after escaping the shangi of the schoolboy took up their headquarters at Walkerville. Here they were favourites as they cleared the rose-trees of aphids...
"The English Sparrow" is in the Observer,
30 November 1878, page 9b.
For further information on our imported friend see Register,
23 January 1879, page 4g,
7 and 13 February 1879, pages 5c and 6f,
14 and 24 May 1881, pages 7e and 7c,
2, 6, 10, 13, 16, 20 and 23 August 1881, pages 6b, 1g (supp.), 6f, 7b, 1c (supp.), 7b and 7b,
10, 13, 14, 20 September 1881, pages 6c, 6e, 4f-6d, 1d (supp.),
10 August 1882, page 5b,
5 and 13 January 1883, pages 6c and 5a,
8 December 1884, pages 4h-5h,
11 and 30 December 1884, pages 4h-6f and 6b,
Observer,
20 August 1881, pages 10d-25c,
9 February 1884, page 41e.
A cartoon is in The Lantern, 5 November 1881.
An interesting series of letters and discussion on sparrows are in the Register on
10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 27, 28 and 29 January 1885, pages 6g, 7f, 7e, 3f, 3g, 7e, 6f and 6d,
2, 4, 10, 12 and 27 February 1885, pages 7c, 7g, 5b-7b, 7f and 5a,
5 March 1885, page 6d; also see
Advertiser,
5 and 10 March 1885, pages 4f and 7a,
4 September 1886, page 7e,
Register,
2 and 4 June 1885, pages 7g and 7c,
4 and 14 September 1886, pages 4g-7c and 3g,
Observer,
4 September 1886, page 32b.
The Register of 5 July 1887 at page 4f-5b-7a says, inter alia:
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It is rather a strange thing that the sacred thistle (otherwise miscalled "Scotch thistle"), the sparrow and the snail should be introduced by sentimental settlers under great difficulties and that when once introduced they should have taken possession, to the deep and lasting injury of the colonists.
Also see Register,
9, 21, 22 and 29 July 1887, pages 4f-6d, 5c-6h, 4f and 7f,
2 August 1887, page 7g,
Advertiser,
10 July 1888, page 3f,
4 September 1888, page 7c,
31 December 1889, page 3g,
Register,
4 September 1888, page 7g,
4 and 12 November 1889, pages 4h and 7h,
9 December 1889, pages 7h,
Advertiser,
30 August 1890, page 4e,
Register,
11 February 1892, page 4h,
27 August 1892, page 5a,
10 September 1892, page 6g,
28 December 1893, page 5b,
17 May 1894, page 6g,
13 June 1894, page 4f,
20 December 1910, page 5d.
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If the sparrows ought to be destroyed at the public expense so ought the silver-eyes and a majority of our other native birds; but what would be the consequence? Simply that the insect tribes would so multiply that we should have no fruit at all and that all the fruit trees themselves would in a few years perish. To educate the Yahoos of South Australia up to this idea, however, it is feared is a hopeless task.
(Advertiser,
6 August 1887, page, 7a; also see
9 and16 August 1887, pages 7d and 7a,
3 September 1887.)
"School Children and Sparrows" is in the Observer,
13 February 1892, page 29d and
19 March 1892, page 13a.
"A Sparrow Exterminator" is in the Observer,
11 March 1893, page 12d.
Flora and Fauna - Choose again
