Evening star., 1945-08-06
This and That
Bu Charles E. TrdceUeH.
ALEXANDRIA, Va.

Dear Sir:
Can you tell me what hurt my pet?
I was getting dinner when R. called to
me from the back garden that our
favorite redbird was right at the foot of
the steps near the car.
Something wrong!' she called.
'I ran out, and there he was, the most
pathetic looking cardinal. I called B.
and all three of us stood looking at him.
so forlorn, wings dragging, tail fallen,
but once he opened his eyes and with
head on one side looked up at us.
Il felt terrible to see him in such a
state, so beautiful in all his gorgeous
plumage. I did not know what to do.
We had fed him for five years.
Il went slowly toward him, and talk
ing to him all the time, I picked him
up, the first time I ever held cardinal
in my hands.
II took him to the feeding ground and
held his beak in water, then put him in
among the ferns. He just sat, and I
was afraid cat would get him.
Then thought of the old bird cage
on its stand. and got it and put Mr..
Cardinal in it. He just sat on the floor
of the cage.
"We couldn't bear to watch him die,
so we went into the house to find my
dinner burnt to crisp. started a new
to see how the cardinal was.
well, sir, about the fourth or fifth
time went to look, there was Mr.. Cardi-
nal jumping around OK!
Eyes bright, and wanting out.
"I opened the cage, and away he flew
like the down of thistle. But he did
not return for two whole days. Then
came with all the family, his wife, a
young son and three new babies. Perky
and showing off.
'The only thing I can think of was
that the brown thrush pecked him on
the head and stunned him. But imagine
him flying home, to me, right up to the
door, begging for help.
Incidentally, the brown thrushes,
though lovely, are fighters. I've seen
them chase some of the JAYS, and if
any bird can chase the jays away-well!
Sincerely, B. B."
We wonder if our correspondent can
be confusing the brown thrasher with
the wood thrush.
The thrasher is large, and member
of the mockingbird- d-catbird family, and
hence rather on the belligerent side.
Many persons call it the "big thrush, u
and certainly it more resembles wood
thrush than either mocker or catbird
Personally we have never seen a wood
thrush chase any other species, or hurt
or harm one in any way.
The wood thrush official bird of the
District of Columbia, is prince in
feathers, such prince as we read about
in the fairy stories.
Usually this paragon of prince was
the youngest, and 1t was presumed that
he grew up, after marrying the lovely
princess, to be perfect in all the virtues
Well, the wood thrush, among the
birds, is such prince of fellow, well
hammered, beautiful to look at, and hav-
ing certain charm which sets him
apart from all other birds
No, we do not believe that a wood
thrush injured the cardinal. 1t may
have been jay, but probably was a
robin. These hearty fellows are real
fighters, and at times have been known
to chase each other to exhaustion.
Birds sometimes fly into the side of a
house, and often kill themselves, or stun
themselves so that unless some kind
hearted person rescues them they are
likely to die. Water inserted into the
bill with a medicine dropper at such
times Is good. Leaving them alone is
best.