Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-13
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Traceuell.

"PARKsIDE DRIVE.
Dear Sir:
For years have enjoyed and learned
much from reading your very fine col
umn. Some Of the interesting things I
have observed about birds follow:
1.-THE thermometer and all else to the
contrary-it is spring, for the cardinals
tell me so.
For the past. weeks they have been
singing gloriously. To be exact, I first
heard their song on January 8, not just
note or two, but the full beautiful
song. When it rains or turns little
warmer, they express their joy in song.
II enjoy watching these handsome
f1amboyant creatures, but find that some
things about Mr.. Cardinal are not very
conmendable.
HE treats his lady in a most outra-
geous manner. He not only runs her away
from the feeding station, but chases her
out OF the neighborhood. Some OF these
days, though, he will be paying her
homage.
Last spring witnessed pretty sight.
Lady Cardinal was perched rather for
lornly in tree, when all of sudden
a streak of fame flashed by and there
WdS illS IildJcSty lCculIlS llcT QdlllIy
tid-bit with marked Soicitude
I'VE have three bird feeders going on
our premises, one at window and two
in trees, besides feeding on the ground.
Our daily winter visitors are the nut
hatch, titmouse, chickadee, cardinal,
mockingbird, blue jay, junco, English
sparrow, the white-throated sparrow,
and what we believe to be fox sparrows
ciA fIxy hi, trIr
purple finch and the winter wren. Also
the starting and grackle. The latter we
do not encourage.
THE squirrels also visit the feeders,
especially If there are any peanuts in
the food.
During December we were conscious
night, but as it was in the wee small
hours we did not investigate.
However, we were up quite late
Christmas eve, when we again heard
something. Going to the window, I dis
covered the feeder completely filled with
furred creature.
Not knowing what 1t was, called a
member of the family, who exclaimed
| that it was possum
Well, there he sat staring right at
| us.
He had been helping himself and his
snout was wreathed In breadcrumbs. A
funny sight, indeed.
| We barred him in the feeder, but he
fayed about so wildly we gladly turned
him loose.
| with best wishes, am
| Very truly yours, B. E.B."
And what funny, long snout the
opossum has, to be surel
| A visit from this denizen of the deem
woods is always an event in suburban
homes where people love the wild crea-
lures
Where the residents are unacuuainted
with the wild ones, the visit Of the
/ possum is sometimes received with alarm
/ Really, there is nothing about him to
hurt any one.
He wants something to eat, and some
times Wanders far to find it.
He should be received gladly, with
the knowledge that here is one of the
queer ones of earth.
Actually he is beautiful animal, de-
4 spite his long, naked tail.
His long muzzle, his black tipped ears
and his wonderful paws put him in a
class by himself.
| The great point OF his personality
however. is the eye.
Few animals have as appealing an
expression in the eyes. We feel con-
yinced that no one who has watched
an opossum at close range, and fslt thu
appeal Of those eyes, could do 30 Grass
. thing ~ eat their owner.
u 4