Evening star., 1944-07-26
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUeH.
SILVER SPRING, Md.

Dear Sir:
Il am much interested In observing
birds, and have enjoyed your daily
column in The Star. / have book
which enables me to identify most
specimens, but have recently observed
two birds that I have been unable to
determine the identity Of
Il live in the -Four Corners area on
Colesville road, and recently have seen a
number Of birds, approximately the
size of bluebird or perhaps slightly
larger, that have a white breast and
throat with the back and wings being
what might be called an oxford gray or
light black, and dark black head on
which the feathers seem to be slightly
pulled out. although the bird does not
have a definite crest, such as the
cardinal
, 'Ap >ther definite characteristic is a
tail aat fans out when the bird fys and
o. The end thereof is very noticeable
white border. have not heard the bird
utter any sound except chirp that is
not very musical.
Last February or March, in a cluster
OF pine trees, I observed several small
birds about the size of a chipping
sparrow. They were a light green in
color and very active.
Very truly yours, H. r. S."
The bird with the white on its tail is
the kingbird, or bee martin as it's
sometimes called.
The greenish bird probably was
goldfinch in its winter dress.
The bluebird is $50 to ITO inches long,
whereas the Eastern kingbird is about
8 inches in length
The kingbird has very small patch
OF crimson on its head, but the observer
would have to be very close to see it.
The call is very shrill and unmusical
This is the bird which chases hawks,
and does very good job of it, too.
The idea of many country people that
1t eats bees has been largely disproved.
Scientists who have made careful ex-
animation of the stomachs Of hundreds
of kingbirds found only 81 bees, and of
these 81 were drones. The bird will eat
grasshoppers, cutworms and blister
beetles. Probably in time it will catch
many japanese beetles as they fly
through the air. 1t also eats the robber
flies, so-called, which destroy honey
bees. 1t will eat little fruit. Often a
klngbird in the nesting season will drive
away all hawks and crows, and in this
way renders real service to the farmer.
1t is very handsome bird, and its
young are particularly appealing, with
wide heads and very large beaks, which
they can open TO a really appalling
degree.
Despite the plain fact that the king
cQfchnC
and suburban residents believe it does
No doubt the name of "bee martin"
proves 1t to them. 1t Is just another
indication of how difficult it is for any
nVing creature to overcome bad name
Few OF our birds eat larger percentage
OF insects, about IS per cent of the total
food intake.
They take their food mostly out of the
air, where the food" is most at its ease
ana least likely to suspect capture.
The goldflnch wears a plain green
dress in winter, and is often mistaken at
that time for some stranger.
When spring comes on you can prac-
ucally see them turn yellow, in which
coloration they are recognized by all
bird lovers, and often are called wild
canaries.
One of the good uses of dandelions is
the attraction of the goldfnch. Chick
weed also draws them in numbers.
These good points of two undesired
lawn plants should be kept in mind. It
is often possible to concentrate on some
bad point Of living thing to the
exclusion Of its good features. Such
concentration usually means a narrow
mind, and the narrow. single track mind
!! what has got the world into Its present
situation.