Evening star., 1946-10-31
This and That
By Charles E. Tracewell.

AHL1N1AONs va.
Dear Sir: 49,
Some sparrow-like birds have come
into my yard. They are just slightly
larger than an English sparrow, and
much prettier, think.
They have black, white and yellow
on the head, mighty handsome when I
finally got close enough to see 1t.
AT first I thought they were just
sparrows, but it didn't take a long
closer look to see these were something
else again.
II tried identifying them, but didn't
do much good at it.
Can you solve the mystery for me?
Very truly, H. j. D."
*& &xt
The birds were white-throated SPAR
rows.
These come in from the North at this
time of the year, and remain here until
spring.
As they are about the handsomest of
all the sparrows. of which 10 different
species come to Washington and vicin-
ity, they are to be encouraged In every
way.
They have a plaintive small song,
sometimes heard In fall and winter.
1t has quavering quality which Is
very appealing.
This bird is something over Z inches
long, with CONSPICUOUS white patch
covering the chin, the cheek and upper
throat.
This white is not so noticeable this
time of the year as it will get In the
spring time, nor is the yellow on the
head so brilliant.
The official description says that the
crown Is black, divided centrally by
line or narrow stripe of white, with
broad stripe over the eye, bright yellow
from the bill to above the eyes, and
white the rest of the way.
There is broad streak of black be-
hind the eye. The ear and under eye
region is plain gray.
The usual site for this birds nest-we
will not too often see it hereabouts-is
on the ground, but sometimes in low
bushes.
The bird has a fondness for placing
his nest near small streams. Some of
them nest in Rock Greek Park.
The nest is large for such q compare
lively small bird. It is made Of the
usual materials-moss, bark, coarse
grasses, lined with finer blades of grass.
All of these materials change color
after being set up in the structure of
the nest, so that by the time the babies
are Matched out the nest is neutral in
tone and concealing for the young.
-Four or five eggs are laid in two
patches, usually, one in spring and one
in the middle of summer The buff or
pale green eggs are heavily blotched
with dark brown spots, very finely
laid on.
The white -throated sparrow is great
scratcher, kicking its way through the
leaves of fall and stirring them up as
with q stick.
Not even q dog can make leaves fly
any better, In fact when one first sees
the bird he is very likely to suspect
thing. But there he is, bold and beau-
tiful, handsome in his natural right,
doing good in the world by eating insect
eggs and even leftover insects that may
incautiously come crawling his way.
Wild berries are favorite food, and
when these are combined with weed
seeds, we have diet which at the same
time pleases the bird and his family and
does great good for mankind.
Indeed, few birds are more desirable
around any place where gardening in
any form, small or large, takes place.
Therefore, every home owner must make
sure that the sparrow" he sees is the
sparrow he thinks it is. Many fine
white-throats, as they are af1ectionately
called, have peen destroyed by careless
persons who thought they were "just
common sparrows." Whatever one
might think of such treatment Of Eng
lisi1 sparrows, there could be no diver
gence Of opinion as to the undesirability
Of harming the white -throated sparrow.
one Of Americas best minstrels and
sturdy citiSenA