Evening star., 1944-06-23
This and That
TrGceUeU.
SOUTHEAST.

Dear Sir:
TN the midst of cliff dwelling like
section here in Washington, where block
after block Of huge brick buildings are
laced with concrete walks and streets,
I've done my first study of wild life.
"Our apartment backs UP against a
rather dense little tract of woodland.
From these
'Glooms of the live oaks, beautiful
braided and woven
With intricate shades of the vines that
myriad and cloven
Chamber the forks of the multiform
boughs--'
have coaxed many birds and animals
to feeding ground under my kitchen
window
Freddy Squirrel was the first to see
me throw a nut toward him. While
there was no response that morning, he
daily visited that particular tree and
was gradually coaxed around to the
more secluded kitchen window whence
I threw my offerings Now three months
later he sits on the windowsill ard eats
hearty breakfast almost every morn
ing.
Gradually three other squirrels
joined him. Since the neighboring
children are more in evidence now, all
four squirrels don't appear every day.
Freddy is the most constant, willy and
patient. I've known him to lie In am
bush long periods waiting for the chill
dren to leave so that he might obtain
food. II am not at the window when
he arrives for early breakfast, he plays
around but eventually scratches on the
window screen to attract attention.
Il find that what one squirrel eats
another may refuse. Three of these will
eat bakers bread II there is nothing else.
but not Freddy. In the bread line he
eats only biscuits, pancake and waffle
scraps. Cooked rice is acceptable, too.
After eating pancake or waffle scraps, he
carefully licks his paws and rubs each
side of his face against the tree to re-
move traces OF sirup, we think Inva-
rlably he goes to certain limb to
eat large pieces of food. Occasionally
child early riser or a cat prevents his
early appearance for breakfast On
those days he usually comes for tea
late in the afternoon. Pecans are the
favorite food; roasted peanuts next
And both these are preferred with the
end cut off.
"One morning three small children
spied Freddy hiding in the tree close to
my window A quirl! A uuirl' thev
screamed as with upraised arms they
! jumped like maddened dervishes be-
meath him. Greatly frightened, he tried
to jump to another tree but fell He
ran dazedly few yards and fortunately
escaped into some underbrush. He did
not return for three days after this
fright.
I'm this little preserve of mine
daily feed four gorgeous (but unwel-
Gomez blue jays, four cardinals, two cat
birds. many thrushes, a few starlings
and sparrows, and frequent strangers
of whose identity I am not sure
Stalking the birds and squirrels daily
are four seemingly homeless cats The
fights we wage with them! Since the
children will soon be released from
school for their vacation. l am afraid
that their presence together with the
four cats will cause my forest friends to
vanish But this has been an interesting
experience that l think many people
would enjoy.
Sincerely yours, l.. F. P"
Our correspondent has an admirable
opportunity to teach the children of the
community how to find interest in the
life of the birds and animals
Fortunately for the squirrels, most of
the children of Washington are so we'll
acquainted with them that they do not
attract their attention
1t is possible to interest children in
the care Of wild animals and birds If
they can be given some activity of
their own in helping them. But merely
to lecture them will do little good. Even
adults will become interested in doing
good more quickly If they are permitted
to take part in it, A little cajolery,
perhaps, combined with three parts of
activity plus one part of food, will in
duce almost any one, in time, TO become
| interAted In Wild life l.