Evening star., 1944-05-18
This and That
By Charles E. Trdcetpell.

Dear Sir:
I'VE live in small house with l. large
garden. We have lately begun to take
tremendous interest In birds,
What Is this bird2 IT'S a. biz a. q
robin, long beak and tail. color chest
nut, with q gray and chestnut plaid
breast.
Are squirrels pests? I'm very fond
OF those In my garden, but am afraid
they eat bulbs, seeds, etc.
May I tell you how charming Wa
think your column is?
Sincerely. L, B."
Our correspondents bird Is a brown
thrasher
1t Is often called the brown thrush, !"
but it Is no thrush at all, being a close
cousin to the rnockinghird.
At least II inches long, the thrasher
has long tail, and q bright brown back.
This color is more reddish than that
OF q thrush, and the tail is too long
for thrush, and the eyes yellow.
When we first moved to Chevy Chase.
Md, the brown thrasher was one of the
flrst birds we saw, and we took it for
Inrush, as, indeed, most persons do.
Ihe spots on the breast do not form
plald, IN any sense, but might look
so from little distance.
Inls is a bird with many common
names, including brown thrush, red
thrush, fox-colored thrush, sandy mock
er, sandy mockingbird, French mocking-
bird, brown mocker. ground thrush.
maVls, red mavis, and even song thrush.
II may be seen that, in popular esti-
nation, this bird is a thrush! There are
hundreds of such mistakes in popular
or common names, and no amount of
correction does any good.
The song OF this bird resembles that
OF the true mockingbird, but it is not
as finished. The mocker, the thrasher
and the catbird make up a singing
family, whose songs are poured out
endlessly.
This reminds us that one recent
moonlight night rnockingbird sang ali
night. We heard him every time we
walked up; he was trying to initiate a
wood thrush, and not doing any too
good job at it,
The thought came, could it have been
real wood thrush? Most species of
birds are likely to have member, here
and there, which sings a bit at night.
Often, If one wakes, he will hear the
slight calls of some bird. In some in
stances they are sparrows, especially the
song sparrow.
The mockingbird, of course, is the
great night singer.
The long tailed, long billed thrasher
then, is not thrush; he Is bird in
his own right, and shares with his
cousin, the mocker, great courage in
defending his nest.
When he thinks visitor is too close
ne will do some real thrashing around
with his wings and that long tail, and
hence the name.
He eats little grain, and some fruit,
but mostly he consumes insects harmful
to man and his interests. Certainly he
may be given a little cultivated fruit
IN payment for his beautiful song.
As for squirrels in the garden, they
often are pests, but most delightful
pests, which also may be forgiven for the
damage they sometimes do.
II tray OF peanuts is put out for
them, they seldom will harm bulbs
They are particularly fond of sunfiower
canteloupe and watermelon seeds, be-
loved of many birds.
Sometimes, If no seeds or peanuts
are Forthcoming, they will pull up an iris
rhizome and calmly eat it.
All in all, the squirrel has won fol
himself an honored place in Washington
gardens, and should be greeted as q
somewhat mischievous but lovable
| child of nature. He will bear a little
watching, but the garden will be bette,
| for his being there.