Evening star., 1938-06-24
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.
robin. From this list L. omitted the owl
often heard but not seen.
II

IOUuls ITUku LLu6 u6t ~ OLIQtt6Q LIl6 OWL
often heard but not seen.
%t%
1t will be noted that each Of the two
lists, the first Of 56 birds identified. the
second of 43, contains creatures not in
the other.
This is to be expected. Many birds
although they may be many specimens
in the general vicinity.
The observer, too has a great deal to
do with such lists. Sometimes he or
she may be better at Identifying the
warblers. The sparrow family, too, Is
q tremendous one; the newcomer to the
sport of bird watching is amazed upon
bers Of this great group. There can be
little doubt that many ardent bird OBJ
servers fail At first to differentiate be-
tween the English sparrow, the song
sparrow. and the white-throated sparrow.
Tho fox sparrow is mostly seen at once
to be other than an English sparrow,
but to many people all sparrows are
English"
Thus it may be believed that many an
ardent foe Of this particular species has
confused some of the finer sparrovs
with the English sparrow he fancies he
hates. But that is one Of the finest
features Of bird watching-in time 1t
breeds tolerance.
We do not believe that any one can
work up real interest in bird life with
out Ut the same time coming to q realiza-
ton that the English sparrow is q very
hne bird, after all.
What right has a pushing, hustling
American to berate a bird family be-
cause it embodies the very same quail
ties?
If Americans believe in themselves,
and Europeans say they do they must.
in all honesty, welcome the same quail.
ties wherever they fnd them.
~ -
Our correspondent does not indicate
how much time was taken to compile
the first list
The second listing represents years
time.
The beginner must not think that all
he has to do Is to look into the garden
. few times daily for Q week in order to
be able to say he has identified fifty or
more species.
1t is not done that way. In the first
place. some Of the birds appear only at
certain times Of the year. Some are
migrants, and are to be seen only now
and then, as they 60 South or North.
Others are so shy that only a glimpse
will be had now and then. Even II 4
watcher had nothing else to do except
watch the birds. he would not see fifty
IN week, or maybe not In that many
weeks.
With all except the ornithologist, bird
watching is a side issue, a very pleasant
one. 1t Is true. but only a side issue.
One does not have birds on the mind"
all the time, even when In the garden.
or simply gazing out the window.
The bird which Is to go into oaes own
personal gallery Of fame usually OBJ
trudes itself upon the watcher by its
color, Its song. or some other peculiarity,
and usually does 50 at the most unex-
pected times.
Hunting for the birds, 1t seems. is not
80 good. in this sport, as permitting
them to come to one. The home garden
OF course, is the best place of all to
Identify them. BY going afield. the
watcher may add few more to his list
but these additions will never have the
personal force and appeal of those OBJ
served at home. Who that wonders how
bit OF blue paper got on the driveway.
and suddenly finds 1t is no blue paper.
out an indigo bunting, will ever forget
the thrill Of it?