Evening star., 1945-02-22
This and That
By Charles Z. Trnce,oeu.

Dear Sir:
I have been an ardent admirer of
: your column for several years, but this
Is the first time I've taken the oppor-
tunity to write to you regarding an in
cldent in bird life which intrigues me.
For some time I've combined the
mobiles OF astronomy and ornithology.
You see, construct my own astronomi-
cal 1nstruments-On q small SCALE Of
course-and have been able to use the
same IN watching the delightful antics
OF numerous birds at great range.
We'll, the other day I observed the
unusual episode of small but aggres-
sive English sparrow fighting of a blue
jay which attempted to cheat the SPAR
row of his dinner.
In my past observations, I've noticed
that the jay is quite a belligerent char
acter and usually is able to overawe
even larger birds than himself. In nv
experience this is the first time I've
ever heard of the ill-equipped sparrow
suoduing the raucous jay.
Incidentally, Mr.. Tracewell I would
like some advice of medical nature for
friends information. This associate
OF mine had a canary whose cage was
upset by the family cat.
AS a result, the canary's leg was
broken and my friend was quite upset
since ne felt himself obliged to destroy
the bird. Isn't it possible to mend a
birds leg or improvise a splint of some
kind?
I would like to thank you for many
warm and friendly moments spent in
reading your daily columns.
Sincerely, W. H."
The male English sparrow is not an
ill-equipped bird, when it comes to
fighting. He not only has tough little
body, but capable claws and hard bill,
and above all training in hard school.
We have discovered that among most
animals and birds the one which gets
the jump" on the other. that is, takes
the offensive, is usually the winner.
Even when two birds are of the same
size. it is almost always the first one
to attack which chases the other away.
We have noticed this so many times
that we suspect that there Is bit OF
bird psychology in it, too
The bird which attacks first evidently
gives the other sort of inferiority
complex. 1t is said that among human
armies, the hardest thing to do is to
conduct good retreat, SO great is the
psychological pressure on the men to
indulge in rOut.
We have often watched one robin
chase another all over the yard until
the second bird is almost ready to drop.
Reports have come to this column of one
bird seeking refuge under the feet OF
some one on a bench
In most such cases the second bird is
fully the equal Of the flrst-but evidently
it doesn't think so.
The dove is another bird which can
fight blue jay to standstill. Jays,
after ALL are mostly bluff, as a class are
not as belligerent as their cries and
general attitude tend to make many
think
It usually is possible to set q birds
broken leg. It is the wing injuries, In
most cases, which necessitates the
forced destruction of the suffering
creature. Often splint may be made
for the leg with broken match.
Many persons possess positive genius
in doing this sort Of informal surgery
One Washington woman even sewed up
a cut throat. If one does not feel able
to apply splint to broken leg, the
bird should be taken to pet store,
where there usually Is some one who
has had experience in such work.
Often there is in neighborhood some
one, usually woman, who seems to
know just what to do with bird. Us
ually such person is canary "fan,' I
and can treat any species, since all
birds are fundamentally alike. Canary
bird fanciers are legion. and no bird
should be given up as lost until one
has consulted some experienced member
| of the clan.