Evening star., 1936-12-07
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

High number of cardinals for one yard
at one time has been reached in a local
yard, with IL Of these beautiful birds
appearing December l at $3.50 pm. The
scene, according to correspondent. is
placed in a garden on Porter street
between Connecticut avenue and Thirty
fourth street.
This is a wonderful record for early
in the season. Usually the cardinals,
often called redbirds, do not arrive in
such numbers until around Christmas,
and even then only on snowy days.
It is significant that snow fell that
night Probably the birds "smelled" the
coming snow as well as the food put out
for them!
Cardinals in such numbers are secured
for the home garden only through put
ting out a feeding station, well stocked
with grains and seeds, particularly sun
flower seed.
The latter, as most persons know, is
the cardinals favorite Winter food when
he can get it. He cracks the outer COW
ering, eats the inside containing the
germ. Thus he gets both carbohydrate,
necessary for keeping him warm in the
cold, and all of the vitamin content of
a natural Impressed food.
Leave 1t to the creatures of nature to
know what is good for them. We have
heard this satisfying theory assailed,
and, no doubt, it may be properly
doubted, when 1t concerns man. Man.
of all the creatures, has mind to upset
the divine plan. The beasts and birds
and fishes, however, are not permitted
to intrude their brains into their every
day affairs in the same way man is in
his Therefore what they do is by
instinct. 1t is only man who perverts
his instincts.
The name cardinal Is a better one
than redbird. The latter seems 20 be
a favorite of older persons, but it shows
the fault of such names, because in some
sections of the country a "redbl1d"
means the scarlet tanager. Almost any
wild bird of red hue is called redbird
some place. The name cardinal" is
taken from the scientific name, Cardi-
nails cardinals, and refers only 20 the
right bird
Even the common name OF bluebird,
a favorite the world around, is some
times given to the blue jay, quite an
other bird
1t will remain question in many
minds, whether the cardinal or the blue
jay is the prettiest bird of the Winter
garden here We never thought there
was any doubt about this until recently,
when we had the pleasure Of inspecting
eight blue jays at a feeding station on
q tree trunk
These fellows come every morning
exactly at o'clock, within few min
utes Their flashing colors. adorning
their large, well-built bodies; their
capable ways, their fighting attitudes,
combine to make very beautiful birds.
There can be little doubt, however,
that the cardinal, especially the male,
will remain the general favcrite. For
one thing he is very easily seen.
Even when perched in shrub he is
plainly in sight. owing to his beautiful
bright coloration. In the snow he be-
comes something absolutely vivid, with
his black ruff and crest atop the blood
red body.
The female cardinal is even more
beautiful, to the discriminating eye, but
in a quiet way. She is the demure one
of the family, although her mate par
takes of something of the same nature,
especially in feeding habits.
Both male and female cardinals are
quiet eaters. If they were human, we
would say refined eaters, but since they
are birds we can merely contrast their