Evening star., 1946-01-15
This and That
By Charles E. Trace1DeH.

CHEVY CHASE, Md.
Dear Sir:
Your column influenced us some
three years ago to feed the birds. We
now have three busy feeding trays, an
excellent collection of pictures and books
and sunaower seed bill of about SO
each month. Our return in pleasure
and education cannot be evaluated in
terms OF money.
THE constant parade of cardinals
nuthatches, tufted titnice, chickadees.
a very lonesome mockingbird, single
goldf1nch, and all of the woodpeckers,
is completely fascinating 1T gives
shut-in aunt the greatest amount of
pleasure.
"She, by the way, has invented a
workable plan of keeping away the
unwanted squirrels. A small tin can
with a secure top contains a dozen
marbles.
"A string is attached to this and it
is suspended by pulley on the feeding
tray near her window. The string goes
into her room and when she yanks it
Mr.. Squirrel nearly jumps out of his
skin.
He disappears after the third or
fourth scare. On the other hand. this
contraption acts as a dinner bell for the
birds, who swoop down Immediately
after the squirrel has departed.
The lone mockingbird is the same
one we had last winter. He thrives on
suet and broken bread crumbs. He also
likes some crumbs of fruit cake we had
at Christmas, but at $l40 per pound
we don't recommend this as steady
diet!
THE goldfinch has a hard time with
the sunfiower seeds but persists in trying
to eat them. He often stays for a half
hour at time in the tray and is not
the least bit fearful of the larger birds.
Il think that We must have all the
cardinals OF the neighborhood here. NV
chief objection to the male cardinal is
that while he is so sweet and gentle and
generous to his lady love in the spring,
he's just mean old arrogant, pompous
and selfish bird at other seasons of the
year. He's probably learned all that
from watching men (my husband
excluded).
we wish you very happy bird
watching New Year.
Sincerely, E. c. j."
&* X
A tin can or other rattle is a far
better instrument for running unwanted
squirrels away than gun or the elec-
trio current.
No doubt other persons could use this
sort OF rattle with good effect.
The comical antics of the squirrels
are always good for a laugh. In these
days OF unrest an honest laugh is worth
twice what it used to be-
The only trouble with such an instru-
ment is that it is not automatic, and
therefore needs some one to pull the
string.
Perhaps it might be adjusted in such
/ fashion that the squirrel would work
it himself.
But when one pulls it, he or she is
| there to watch the squirrel, of course
| and to receive the benefit of the
| laughter
Squirrels are born comics. They are
"naturals," as the expression has it
They seem to enjoy the fun, too. A few
animals, at times even dogs and cats
have this comical strain, but they seldom
| enter into the fun themselves What
they do may be comical, but only now
and then will one arise which seems
to know what it is doing.
Our gray squirrel is different He, at
all times has proper sense of effect
necessary to the living creature which
wants to enjoy the comical side of life
Even when he is working his hardest
to get at food, a serious thing with him
he is able to realize that all is not haro
work. He actually enjoys himself, ano
in this steps nearer to the oldest of al
animals, man.
Only young squirrels, we believe, will
be chased away by the rattle of marbles
in a tin can. Old specimens, used tc
using their brains, will come back fol
more, and shortly realize that there is
no harm in the noise. We feel sure
that the dozen specimens in our yard
would laugh up their paws at the rat.
ting can. But it is such an intriguins
idea that we are going to give them
| chance at 1t soon.