Evening star., 1944-06-05
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TraceUell.
"CLYDEsDALE PLACE.

Dear Sir:
I'm our abode we read your column
every night in The Star as regularly as
we read the largest headlines.
Il want to tell you of the natural
fauna in the Zoo wood, even adjacent
to the Administration Building, near the
Adams Mill road gate
There are squirrels, rabbits, chip
munks, coons. opossum, woodchuck and
gray fox
Il, myself, have seen all except the
coon, woodchuck and possum. The
little gray fox looked at me inquiringly
with his ears very much cooked, SEEM
ingly not at all frightened
Finally I clapped my hands, think
ing that would send him into a panic of
flight. Not at all. He merely continued
to stare at me from a safe distance
When he had all of my measurements
to his satisfaction, he turned and trotted
away deeper into the wood Others
vouch for the presence of racoons, opos-
sums and woodchucks, all of which have
been seen from time to time
Not long ago in the same wood we
were vastly intrigued by the song of
rare quality made by some bird we could
not locate easily, and his song was un-
familiar Finally I located him with
my bird glasses.
1T was scarlet tanager, with his
brilliant red body and black wings and
black tail feathers. He approached
nearer, sat on limb nearby, and sang
his heart out, as though putting on a
special exhibition for our group.
Even DR.. Mann, who was present,
admitted thaf no l.;
He has made his appearance in the
since, always singing Justify about sum
down.
1T is something worth seeing and
nearing, too for those who love birds
Frequently at night we hear an owl
calling over in the woods, and nearly
always at night too, we can hear the
ducks and geese talking to each other
down on the pond under the hill, some
times making a big fuss
AT times a couple of big Canada
geese will fly up from the pond to browse
for while in the wood near the Admin
istration Building, almost as uncon-
cerned as people walk around there.
Il have seen flock of four of them
in the wood at one time, and to see them
take off together to fly back to the
ponds Is exciting - the way they get
through the branches of the trees with
their great wing spread as unerringly as
though they were the size of pigeons,
without hardly touching anything.
Sincerely, E. A, c."
This old and valued correspondent is
to be congratulated on seeing so much.
Many persons unfortunately live close
to the National Geological Park without
paying much attention to it, except to
remark, every now and then, "Oh, listen
to the lions roar"
There are many interesting animals
and birds outside the cages, as Mr.. C.
points out. We have seen all of them
except the gray fox.
An entire vacation was once spent in
the Zoo, SO that every nook and Granny
Of it became familiar 1t was discovered
that not all the creatures were behind
bars. We got to the point where we
found the people more amusing than
the animals, as many another observer
has done
The Zoo park is filled with paths, some
leading down to the creek. These are all
well worn, and easy for Sedentary and
older persons to negotiate.
Those more active may cross the creek
on the stones. Perhaps every WASH
ington youngster has done this, at some
time or other, always with the impress
sion that it Is very dangerous feat.
Scores of chipmunks may be seen
along the rocky stairway leading down
from the Adams Mill road entrance
Such rock formations proyide them with
the habitat they love best of all. Ger
tainly no small animal has brighter
eye or cleaner coat. Coons and opos-
sums must be looked for farther back
IN the woods. The roads and paths are
we'll patrolled and may be traversed
safely by any one.