Evening star., 1944-09-20
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH.
DAVENPORT STREET.

Dear Sir:
"Apropos of blue jays-would like to
relate what noticed the other day.
There was baby sparrow, rather
weak. sitting on top of some moistened
bread and eating, when our special joy,
SWlck," our blue jay, came down to eat.
will you believe me when I say he
sab%bout inches from the food, appar-
emily waiting-fnally taking q few
crumbs that were at his feet-and never
went near the main dinner where the
baby sparrow was roosting?
He merely hung around as It were
for a while, and then left.
"Sw1ck. by the way, talks to me often.
with many different tones. sometimes
rather fussy and other times more In the
lullaby vein.
Sometimes he brings his food to a
bough Just outside my window, holding
the food with one foot and looking at
me so wisely.
L am compiling your column and
have what I think is the most wonder
ful nature study to be had. Many
thanks.
Sincerely, L. E"
x
Here is more proof. If more were
needed, that the blue jay is not the bad
bird which he sometimes is painted.
He Is real American, native bird
from the deep forests, a pioneer, and
yet resident OF town and city.
We have seen him in the downtown
parks and bands of him in the suburbs.
HIS distribution is wide, so that everv
upright two-legged creature knows him
Likewise the creatures which 20 on
Tour legs are aware of his bold and
Jaunty demeanor, and know that he ia
not bird to be fooled with.
Horizontal two-legged creatures-tbe
birds-know him as friend. He hides
bits OF food for them to find. He warns
them of the approach of hawks and
JOINS with others in shrieking at and
thus driving away such marauders as
may be about.
All IN all, the forest folk welcome him.
Ihey would be amazed. in most cases.
II they could know that the vertical two
leggers-human beings-often speak of
him as terror to other birds.
There are specimen jays of course
which do harm to others, especially to
thalr fiedglings and eggs, but this is true
OF many other species.
bold, strong bird. it is perhaps not
to be wondered at that now and then
an outlaw develops among them. The
human race. after centuries of educa
ton, has not been able to end outlaw
ism.
Alongside the studious, kindly man
is the primitive man. often quite as
we'll oreSsed, with just as Slick" hair.
Every one has noticed how often the
criminal, especially the young criminal.
is good looking, in the ordinary sense
OF the word, and how his hair is as
tnlck and glossy and as we'll kept as
tnat OF the gentle, If not more so.
NO doubt we should not be too severe
on the jay, because after all he is on,v
a blrd, without the benefit of education
as many know it.
Inc Jay Is peculiarly an American.
partaking in some respects OF the facial
appearance of the Indian. What a
shame 1t is, that our native redmen
were called Indians! They have no
more to 40 with India than we have.
Inc name Of Aztecs would be a better
one, perhaps. That, at least is real
American. But even American" is not
native word. alas. So no doubt We
VIII have to get along with Indian" the
best we can
We like to picture the blue jay as an
indian brave, shouting his head oil in
the JOY OF native pride and vigor. Add
10 MIN the cardinal and the robin and
you nave trio of native birds of which
any land might be proud. The jay
vii. always be the delight Of special
souls who appreciate beauty combined
with ooloness and who understand the
pecuhar rightness of this bird in his
setting. No living creature is more ap-
propr1ate In his setting nor more Amer.
lean than the bls.s iay.