Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-13

thrush. The two birds eat much the
same foods, although the thrush Is not
very fond Of flshin' worms.
Much the same basic habits made the
wood thrush decide, after houses went
up in America, that the cleared ard cul-
tivated gardens and green lawns, with
evergreens and shrubs and trees, were
just the places he liked best during mat
ing time.
Today he walks fearlessly beneath
hedges and rhododendron plantations
and lilac bushes, searching for grubs and
tho like. He is not quite as much Of a
ground bird as the robin, but a great
deal more so than many persons will be-
lieve who do not provide much real
sanctuary in their yards.
4 ~
In the open lawn which is fairly well
protected and reasonably free from noisy
intrusion, the wood thrush is very much
at home. There he will do variety OF
things many persons might not believe,
who have failed to give him the condi-
tons he likes.
In such yard he will, for one thing,
be almost fearless. That Is he will spend
a great deal Of time on the lawn, even
when people are walking around and
talking,
The scurry Of the lawn mower worries
him not at all. He even will stand his
ground until the whirling blades come
within two or three feet Of him, before
he leisurely flies up.
This fearless behavior gives the OBJ
server splendid opportunity to watch
one Of the cleanest Of all birds in ap-
pearance.
His feathers are so neat so perfectly
balanced, one with the other, his sub
dued coloration so eminently tasty" and
exact in every detail that even the least
observant person in time comes to ad-
mire him.
His song, his outstanding contribution
to the suburban community, has suggest
ed several well-known musical compo-
sitions to various listeners.
One processes to hear q strain from
Handel's Largo" another something
from Gounod's Faust"
However that may be, his song is ex-
quisitely beautiful, as 1t watts down to
us from the trees, especially in early
morning, and just before dark
These are this thrushs favorite sing
Ing times, although he loves to sing
and often does all day long. But he is
at his best as the very first bird Of morn
ing, and the very last at night.
II the listener is very close to him.
he will hear sundry strange harsh noises
filling in between the clear notes But
strange to say, these in no sense detract
| from the music, because they are SO
eminently natural.
It is undeniable, however, that the
wood thrush's song is heard best from
some little distance. when these inter-
ruptions are not heard at all.
Then the loud clear triolets come
through the air with suggestions OF
heavenly song. Many bird lover would
ask no sweeter music to welcome him to
paradise. If we ever meet angels face
to face, we hope they turn out to be
wood thrushes.
Mote: A few hours after the above
was written April the writer passed q
home within block Of his own A neigh
Dor came out on front porch: Why -
she exclaimed, looking down, its dead
bird" 1t was a wood thrush, still warm
Evidently it had just flown in from the
South, several weeks ahead of time. Eff
forts at resuscitation proved futile. This
Is the earliest we ever have heard OF
this thrush returning in this yicinitv)