Evening star., 1945-02-09
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrdceDeH.
FAIRFAX, Va.

Dear Sir:
81 see SO many stories in your column
about mockingbirds. I am joining the
club.
This winter have had to put raisins
and water on the back porch. The boss
mocker eats what he wants and then
keeps watch in a nearby bush.
Three males take chances, but no
sooner do they reach the goal thar he Is
right on them and fights. When two
handsome jays tried their luck he whip
ped them, too, and retired to the bush
to watch.
IF the French had kept watch on
the Rhine as well, this war would not
have materialized.
Finally, he gives up when my three
musketeers are let out of the henhouse.
I raised them from little chicks, and
their box was on the porch. They were
tame. and turned out to be two pullets
and a rooster, so they still think the
porch is their hunting ground, and de-
liberately march on, eat the rest of the
food and drive the mocker away.
Although he ruffles up and flutters
his wings, they watch with amusement
Just the same, I'll bet on my mocker
against all other birds.
Sincerely, S. T"
* X X X
The belligerent mockingbird is COM
mon phenomenon, but one which al
ways excites interest.
We feel that our correspondents at
titude Is the best one. Some persons
feel very much put out because such a
bird bullies other species, or acts the
part Of the dog-in-th manager at a
feeding station.
Actually, the birds are used to mock
ers, even bully ones. and do not put
the same stress on their actions that
human watchers often do.
It is necessary at all times, in watch
ing animal life, to refrain as far as
possible from attributing human motives
to them.
They are different from us, in many
ways, and do not have thoughts" of
the same sort as ours
Their world is different, that is, their
mental world. The life of the mind is
q mighty life, but it is not the same for
bird as 1t is for man.
The mockingbird which defends its
nest so valiantly in the summer is not
motivated exactly as human being is
In defending his own home.
The birds know nothing of politics, or
revenge, or defense, in our knowledge
and understanding of those words.
They simply do things, and we, in
watching them. must beware Of at
tributing to them exactly the same
mental processes as would be carried
on in our own minds under similar cir
cumstances.
r kx II
In trying to correct the habits of cer-
tain birds or animals such as squirrels,
which do things which we, their friends
and observers, do not like, we should not
get angry at them.
This Is the first essential. Too many
persons who regard themselves as friends
Of animals fail to observe the rule. They
let themselves grow red In the face over
some action Of bird Or squirrel. usually,
just as If the creature had 1t In for
them" and were deliberately doing
something to mock them.
Such Is far from the case. Although
the small creatures Of woods and fields
and gardens win come and eat what
we put out, they do so In the serious
business Of life, and not at all for our
amusement.
What they do, and the way they do
it, is part of their very being, and If
we are sincere in our professions of
friendship we viii not fail them in this
essential attitude, but will at all times
recognize that they are not as we are,
and that they seldom Il ever act from
any motives with which we are fully
familiar. That is, the workings Of their
little minds respond to outer influences
to which we are almost strangers. Per.
haps II We could recall some Of our
ancient inheritance, which we SO sneer-
ingly think Of as animal" and are so
willing to forget we would have q better
chance and fairer one Of judging these
little brothers and sisters fairly.