Evening star., 1936-04-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.


great city have little right to reject
this member of the sparrow family,
which includes mainly desirable birds
Ornithologists tell us that the sparrows
are at the very peak Of the bird family
tree, owing to general utility as destroy
erS of noxious grubs and the like, their
efficiency as birds and their mainly
pleasant associations with man.
Those who are "ag'i this little gamin
ought to keep in mind that it is one of
the few birds which thousands of per-
sons know. Then it is extremely queS-
tionable, too, whether the English SPAR
row is half as bad as he is painted. Any
one who has watched the mixed birds at
the average feeding station will have
seen much worse manners. That it
drives away other and more desirable"
birds is only half true If it seizes a
bluebird house. in nesting time, it has
this excuse, that it has no idea in the
world that the ediflce was intended for
bluebirds.
Tolerance of all the birds that come
to the garden is by far the wisest plan,
it would seem, for in this way the human
agent in bird feeding helps himself build
up something truly broad and fine in
his own character.
What are few sparrows, more or less,
in comparison with betterment Of human
nature?
These persons who breathe death and
destruction to the small things of earth,
what may we not expect of them when
it comes to the larger creatures?
Let us use our heads, then, and try
fN IT, ~ &I.1A
geance is not good, that amity may be
worked out in little, and that only as it
is manifest, in the daily small things,
will it ever have chance of bloSsoming
in the grand affairs of man.
y X
'The result was a collection of salts
fed jays" etc.
And satisfied English Sparrows, too,
without doubt!
One may be suspicious Of the person
Who processing love of the song birds,
finds it necessary at the same time to
destroy those elements Of the natural
picture which he, in his judgment, does
not like. We are suspicious of his pre-
tensions, and think he had better turn
his attention to something else and let
the birds alone. Suppose he is partly re-
sponSible for the establishment of bird
sanctuaries? He has achieved pride, and
is not that enough for him? We had
rather be the humblest amateur bird
lover, who has taken them as they come,
and tried to be friends to them all, than
this incarnation of sparrow murder, who
combines with his incredible tenderness
for "our desirable birds" an equally in
credible savagery for other things,
winged or legged.
The use Of short lengths of string, wool
and bits of absorbent cotton to attract
the birds at nesting time is good prac-
tice. Not only that, it is scientific
Eminent ornithologists have conducted
experiments. showing the colors and
types of materials preferred.
The average householder, who may be
simply bird friend, and not scientist,
need use little more than common sense
along with bits of material which other
wise would go to waste.
Hanging twine or wool near newly
erected birdhouse is to be commended,
for it shows the birds that it may be
pretty good place to nest, after all.
Mostly they are suspicious, and require
some such thing to turn the balance in
favor of the man-made home.
There are only few birds, compare
lively speaking, which will make use
of such bird houses. These naturally
nested in holes in old dead trees, since
these were the only kinds to have holes
in them.
1t is expecting a bird to do a great
deal, therefore. to ask it to make use of
house on the side of a tree, on a post
or side of building. A little good nest
ing material will help.