Evening star., 1944-03-11
This and That
By Charles E. Trdcepeu.
~OLIVER STREET,

Dear Sir.
Last Monday all the blue jays in the
ne1ghborhood got together and made a
very loud racket for the rest of the day.
They flew in large flock from one place
to the other. I didn't notice anything
that could make them act this wav.
unless they were holding a racket con-
test to see which could make the loudest
noise. They all looked so funny. bobbine
up and down and making the most
peculiar noises. Do you have an expla-
nation for this?
Just today, as walked in my room, I
saw a red-bellied woodpecker at nv
feeder, but there wasn't any suet there
from the place that I was standing it
looked as If he took a seed. The only
1000 put out at that time was seeds. He
might not have taken anything, but,
anyway, he came back second time
I knew that nuthatches, titmice and
chlckadees prefer seeds to suet cat nv
feeder), but woodpeckers are a different
matter.
SO Tar I have had about II species
OF birds come to my feeder. including
flve different kinds of woodpeckers. I
like to sketch and paint birds and ami
mails. 1nclosed are some of my drawings.
wish you would give me some advice
ABOUT them Sincerely, N. c."
X
Woodpeckers will eat seed if thew
cannot get suet
pecKers came to our feeding station on
the arch. This station was just a COCO
nut shell hung by long wire.
nf l.,-
feeder, the other perched on the arch
ana then they would exchange places.
This wheeling of the woodpeckers
made beautiful sight in the snow.
We are glad to have the samples of
the drawings by our young correspond
ent. Ihey are very well done and show
real feeling for birds.
Our advice is to keep on, and to con-
tmue to study birds and to draw and
paint them
Blrd Portraits in Color" issued bv the
University of Minnesota Press, contains
some hne color plates by masters of bird
drawings. This volume may be DUR
chased at most book stores, or may be
found at the Public Library. It will
prove an inspiration to any one inter-
eSted IN drawing birds
Ihe blue jay is one of our most inter-
eStlng birds. The small bands which
roam the suburban areas are USUALLY
composed of the father and mother bird
ana three or four children. Later in the
spring they disband.
what makes a blue jay "tick" is hard
10 say He is peculiar fellow. one who
lkeS to make noise in the world and to
be heard by all and sundry. There can
De little doubt that the noise making
mas sort OF competitive basis.
4 x
EAST BRADLEY LANE
Dear Sir:
Thank you for your entertaining de-
scrlptlon of the engagement in which
the yellow cat without a tail and four
OF my feline playfelloWs of your neigh
borhood recently took part. You stated
we were harassing the birds and suuir
rclS at the feeding place We bow our
heads in shame, but only for a second
to SO appear for the first time in print
we nave decided that the increased at
tentlon and consideration shown us bv
our family and neighborhood children
resulting from such pleasant notorietv
lar outWelghS any sense of guilt at
tached to this eScapade.
MY family is bit envious, since I am
the only member thereof who has made
the editorial page of The Star only two
columns removed from Mr.. Churchill on
one side and Dorothy Thompson and
Maj George Fielding Eliot on the other,
Thanks, too for your special mention of
my peculiar rabbitlike gait. Just be-
tween US, l have been exaggerating it a
bit since your article.
We are glad you understand that we
year-old cats wouldn't know much about
catching squirrels. Personally I am
better at catching a family. 1 was only
| a dripping yellow ball of kitten with
nary tail when I first appeared one
night at an upstairs window. I COM
pletely captivated my present family and
we Immediately adopted each other tC
our continued satisfaction Even at that
age knew enough to come in out OF
| the rain
Thanking you again for the publicity
given me and my friends q include the
birds and squirrels), I am dear sir,
| Your stanch admirer, RUSTY H."