Evening star., 1946-03-04
This and That
By Charles Z. Traceuell.
ARLINGTON, Va

Dear Sir:
The other day I had the pleasure
OF visit from bird so remarkably
small and dainty that think should
tell you about it.
But before describing my visitor. I
want TO say that I enjoy your column
very much. I am particularly grateful
because 1t introduced me to the fascinat-
ing pastime Of studying birds.
1 mad never really noticed them when
l was hVlng In my native city of New
Orleans-though, of course, knew the
cardinal, the blue jay and mocking bird.
incidentally, If my memory serves me.
tne Louisiana mocker is darker pray,
more chesty. and more belligerent than
the d. G. variety)
Inc particular bird which is the
reason Tor this letter came to the bushes
In front OF our house few DAYS ago 7
peeped at him through the blinds at a
range Of two or three feet for a full min
ute or two. saw him very well, and he
was so busy that he did not see me.
he was t1ny-much smaller than a
sparrow, almost as small as q hunnminp
plrd. On his head he had a bright VEL
low stripe, edged with two black ones.
He was grayish, yellowish, green on
top, with wings and tail darker. and was
lght gray underneath. His wings. which
seemed striped with yellow and which
mad white band (and a black band
alsoO where they joined his body. were
long.
His tail was very slightly forked. He
had no neck, being quite compact. His
Dill was thin, and he had bright black
eyes. He went quite Systematically over
our evergreens
Ihls most charming bird was-iudp-
ing by Neltje Blanchan's Bird Neigh
pors-a golden-crowned kinglet. WON
DER II he is seen often around herep T
would be glad to learn anything more
about him.
Very truly yours, M. j."
y ~ X
Both the golden-crowned and the
ruby-crowned kinglets are seen fairly
frequently, the latter more often than
the former
They belong to the group of kinglets
anu gnat catchers. Ornithologists say
they are related to the thrushes, though
1t Is difficult for the layman to see the
resemblance.
Little king" is the translation of the
Latin name of the kinglet genus, and it
fits them to T, for they are among
the pertest little birds ever seen, and
also among the most beautiful
There is something about them which
reminds one of a finely made china oh
ject.
They love to fit over shrubbery, espe-
cially rhododendrons.
They are looking for dormant insects
and their eggs, and never miss a one.
thus cleaning up hundreds of the foes
OF mankind which ordinary and larger
birds miss.
1t is marvellous to see the way king
let can drop from branch to branch.
There is something of magic in the sight.
There is the bird, in plain sieht-
Then he disappears!
He achieves this sleight-of -hand bv
twisting himself underneath a leaf
The title of 'little king" is given. of
course, for the crown, either golden or
ruby.
Often the ruby specimen conceals his
special mark until he is angry, and then
he flashes it so that all other kinglets
may see it.
Sometimes ruby-crowned kinglets put
on a sort of crown competition, as it
were, half dozen of them, time after
time. revealing the ruby, while the rest
OF the band perch around and clamor
excitedly.
Despite the ceramic quality of the
kinglets, they can stand the bitterest
weather.
The golden-crown species always car
ries his crown in plain view.
Persons who have missed seeing the
evening grosbeaks this winter may con-
sole themselves If they have the king
ets-or even the cardinals, jays and
J. lockers. for all birds are wond rul.