Evening star., 1946-09-07
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceDeu.
"TENNYSON STREET


Dear Sir:
How long do the thrushes stay with
us? This is my favorite bird, and hate
to see it 60, but know it Is inevitable,
just as so many other things are.
II did not know this bird, or many
others, until I moved out here to the
Of my dearest possessions.
This bird shows me how 1t is possible
to have something though it really does
not belong to you. think that If more
people went in for possessions" OF this
sort, the world would be better place
to live in.
"The thrush is mine in a peculiar
sense. do not understand it, exactly,
just what mean, but maybe you and
others will know.
Il like the others, but the thrush
speaks to me particularly, and sings to
me alone, it seems, although heaven
knows his song is loud enough for all
to hear.
''Yet have this sense of his being my
bird, and mine alone. wonder If any
one else ever felt that way?
During past summers I missed these
bheds gradually, but this year would
like to know the exact time they go.
Yours, E. Mel"
Most of our wood thrushes are gone
by October 80, but a few remain well
into November
The writer will never forget one he
met on a log up in the next block.
There he was, perfection in brown,
perched on one end.
And we sat down on the other and
engaged him in conversation.
1t was a rather one-sided talk, 1t
must be confessed, but satisfactory, none
the less. At least to us, and no doubt
to the bird, for he remained there all
the time, cooking his head first on one
side and then the other.
At first we thought he must be injured.
some way, but in a few minutes he
hoped down of the log and went across
the street.
We watched him, to see if he could
fly, and sure enough, he soon took off
in his best professional fashion, so all
We could conclude was that he was
being friendly in a special manner.
Since then we have noted this trait
many times in this beautiful, friendly
bird. AS far as we know, no other
species which is already friendly be-
comes more friendly just before de-
parture.
The wood thrush adds this to his
many good traits, and he does so without
strutting or trying to show off.
He is just good bird, one of the
best, many persons think the best. This
comes about not only because of his
general department and style, his colora-
tion and happy ways, and his fine song,
loud but beautiful. 1t arises mainly
because he Is an aristocrat.
The word has gone out of fashion in
recent years, with the dictatorship of
labor, but 1t still means something. Often
in animals, as well as humans, one with
honest gaze finds himself Confronting
a natural and genuine aristocrat
The sense of this Is not given to every
one; that Is why, perhaps, so many
persons do not like the house cat. The
real aristocrat repels them, maybe be-
cause they feel in themselves the lack
OF the very qualities that make the other
what he is.
Fortunately for the wood thrush, he
repels no one. Listening to him, ad-
miring him, thinking Of his good quail
ties, the person who has not lost his
sense OF wonder over the natural crea-
lures will feel, as our correspondent,
sorry when the wood thrush goes away.
But he will return!
Next April %, almost to the day, he
will be back, making the woods and
lawns ring with his three-note song,
varied as q true musician knows how.
Yes, the wood thrush will return
but, In the meantime, we have several
weeks more Of his lovely presence, time
enough to appreciate him, even II the
bombs fall before Christmas.