Evening star., 1945-05-15
This and That
Bu Charles E. TrGceDeH.
VERMONT AVENUE NV.

Dear Sir:
Have been reading your most inter-
esting and enjoyable bird column for
number Of years, and although quite
busy, was prompted to make a reply in
my humble way to the query by M. j. F.
in last nights Star regarding our mu-
tual friend, old cock robin
May I say in describing his rain song
as it sounds to me-'clear up, clear up,
clear up. alternating four to five times
each? Ar
His early morning song, which be-
lieve is the first among the birds and
which begins with a sort Of whispering
or peeping to each other, increases
to his full-throated cheer up, cheer
up cheer up, etc.
"As to his style, in place Of being
wild warble as expressed by our friend,
M. j. F.. would say it Is very vivacious
song, lively and gay, in anticipation and
appreciation (unlike us poor humans) OF
the plenteous food Mother Nature has
provided him with.
Although it is gratifying to know
there are many wild bird lovers, it would
be vastly more so if the war and wealth
lovers were bird lovers instead.
thought of the lack of song telling of
the robins singing qualities, ETC.,
would like to mention that have one in
my collection Of music, which was my
profession (and am glad to say I am
cock robin in my own right, also trying
to cheer up lonely hearts, having also
travelled north and south. singing pro-
fessionally for my quota of worms). The
title of the song is Robin, Robin, Sing
Me a Song
I'm closing must mention your refer
ence to the wood thrush, which I be-
lieve is the same bird I call the wood
lark, and is my favorite bird, as it
takes me back to my boyhood days,
when used to travel through the woods
at daybreak and listen to the beautiful,
clear, bell-ike tone Of this bird. The
one refer to looks similar to the robin,
with brick-colored breast, although
smaller in stature.
please enlighten me regarding this,
and thanks so much for your beautiful
language and articles about the birds.
yours sincerely, o. M"
In addition to Robin, Robin, Sing Me
a Song" our correspondent, who is an
old minstrel man, sends the words of
another of his songs, which included the
robin:
when boy used to dwell in home
l. loved so well,
Far away among the clover and the
bees;
Where the morning glory vines round
the cabin porch did twine,
And the robin redbreast sang among
the trees.
"We were brothers, young and gay,
A father old and gray a mother dear,
to shield us from all harm;
Where spent life's golden hours, run
ming wild among the flowers,
In my boyhood's happy days, down
on the farm"
The bird to which our correspondent
refers, and which he called the wood
lark, must have been the ground robin,
or towhee.
Just the other day we heard what we
took to be the first notes of wood
thrush's song. 1t came from large,
leafy lilac, which hid the singer so well
that we could not see him.
We raised the window, thinking to
get better view of him, whereupon he
flew away. AS he flew we caught sight
of red breast, which was much redder
than that of a real robin, Just a few
feet away at small bird bath, sunk
in the ground. The towhee evidently
had been contemplating bath.
Mostly from towhee (Which is called
chewink by some persons) one will never
hear anything but the "chewink, che
wink" call, which gives it one of its
common names.
A great many people do not know this
beautiful bird by any other name than
joree. Truly it is one of the handsomest
of all American birds. The female has
brown back and duller breast. It is
the male who is the beauty of the
family. With his black back and head,
his golden red breast and touches of
white on his stomach, he is something
to see. Sometimes one will stay here
all winter.