Evening star., 1944-03-08
This and That
Bu Charles E. Troce7peU


The first robin was reported from
Chevy Chase. Md, on March /.
Thereafter robins appeared on every
side. and every person who saw one
fondly imagined that 1t was 'the first
robin"
The happy thing about robins is that
every PERSONS first sight of this fine
bird is memorable. 49,
Somehow spring robins are linked in
the mind, that seething sea in which
reside so many things, and without
whose motions life would not be quite
the same.
Nothing is either good or bad but
thinking makes 1t So"
Surely this Is true of robins.
The householder, In peace and war,
sees the big friendly bird with the
rusty breast-not really red-and he
shouts, There's a robin!"
He shouts, that is, if he is sensible
for the first robin is an event.
The first robin, in each ones expert
ence. is not just bird
He is spring, itself.
AAN tceyS, co P1oiillS 0lidU llO WOluS dIt
needed, We'll, folks, here I am, and
you know what mean. Don't let lit
tie snow and ice fool you. I don't mind
them, and neither must you. When you
see me, you see spring, and you know
what that means"
1t means Victory gardens, and raking
the leaves off the lawn, and tomatoes,
and carrots, and radisheS, especially
ra6iShpc a1tbo11oI1 thou mt roon,,
fit to eat.
1t means big worms on the tomato
plants, and lessons in insecticides and
fungicides.
1t means balmy air and red faces and
sometimes disturbed tempers, when
newcomers to the land find out that
nature will not do what they want it to.
and especially that nature will not
hurry.
Hurry is left to mortals 1t is mans
silly invention to impress himself.
Angels and frosts, one may feel sure,
never hurry.
If a wondering robin comes your way,
and looks miserable and hungry in the
cold, there are some things you may do
for him.
Put out raisins, or bread moistened in
milk, or bits of suet. The Government
will forgive you such use of fat, for it
takes very little, and every robin saved
means thousands of insects killed, and
these mean so many less hostile forces
to attack Americas food crops.
If it is snowy when the first robin
appears, smooth out place fiat, and
put the food there, where the bird can
see it.
Do not be disappointed if he will not
come to formal feeding station. Rob-
ms seldom do, although now and then
one will especially one which the pre-
vious year got used to such an arrange
ment.
The robin is one bird which comes
back to the same yard, in many cases,
although not invariably.
Scores of persons in suburban sections
who raised baby robins the next last
spring and summer confidently may
expect to see their favoriteS back this
spring.
Be sure to keep an eye out for them.
Usually they have changed somewhat
in appearance, SO the only sure signs
are those of habits, built up last year.
These may include such habits as
perchlng on a certain tree limb. or
using an excited call which distinguishes
it from other robins in the past.
People are so used to robins that
sometimes they fail to realize what
really splendid musicians they are.
This ability is not strange, for the robin
belongs to the thrush family and his
babies show it plainly by the speckles
on their breasts. Thrushes are among
our finest natural musicians and it is
not to be wondered at that this cousin
can sing SO well. Friends of birds should
listen intently to robins, and learn to
appreciate their music, because it is
fully in keeping with the fine habits
and appearance Of this favorite species.