Evening star., 1946-09-23
This and That
By Charles E. Trace,Dell.

Our pet mockingbird came back the
other day to show of his new feathers.
How proud he was!
There could be no question of nature
taking" in attributing pride to him.
He showed 1t in every movement, and
In the way he called from in front and
behind the house.
The moment any one would come out,
he would keep his perch-usually on the
porch rail-and begin to preen his
feathers
He would lift his wings, just as any
beauty might who wished to show of
a new costume
His fall coat was really beautiful,
clean and sparkling, with wholly new
tones.
When he had left for a few weeks,
he was thin and rather on the rag
ged side, but now he was fat and sleek,
with fine feathers, indeed.
Usually a mocker's breast is regarded
as pale gray. but now he had wholly
new tones in 1t of cream and even a
bit of rose. Maybe the last was due
to the reflection Of a red althea blossom
(double) nearby.
The feathers on the breast had a fur
like appearance, they were so thick and
springy-
Other birds are returning, after being
to the woods for the change.
Blue jays are in fine feather, with the
crest-like feathers on the head vet to
make their appearance.
Jay bands are usually composed of
mother, father and three or four chill
dren.
These small groups keep together all
fall and most OF the winter. Usually
the bands fly into. yard at about the
same time every morning. They seldom
stay more than half an hour, leaving
for long flights to nearby communities
and to the woods, which they love even
better than such birds as the wood
thrush and the chickadee and his small
companion, the titmouse.
The common name of wood thrush"
Is now in error, since this bird is no
longer true forest species, as it was
when this country was discovered.
1t has taken to towns and even cities
with gusto, loving nothing better than
the formal foundation paintings so
common everywhere.
Wood thrushes may be seen sedately
finding food beneath rhododendrons and
al the other plants, shrubs and ever
greens commonly used to make the base
outline of modern home softer in out
line.
The wood thrush is no longer forest
bird, as its cousin the hermit thrush
still is. The hermit really deserves the
name Of wood thrush. What would we
call the wood thrush then? Why, night
1ngale thrush would be a good substi-
tute. 1t is often called the brown
thrush, Of course, even in songs, but
since most thrushes have this brown
such name is not very definite.
Common names of birds are often
wrong. but that is not to be wondered
at, since they were given In the first
place by some one who did not know
about the other species of the same
family. If he who first called him
wood thrush had known about the
others, he would not have been so hasty
to call him brown. AS a matter of fact
the speckled breast is much more dis
tinctive, since there are many birds
with brown backs of some shade or
other.
Those who wish to begin bird feed
ing for the first time have a golden
opportunity in the autumn. Not only
will scores Of resident birds be attracted,
but many migrating species will stop
over for dinner on their way South
Some of these, such as the warblers,
may not patronize the food put out,
but they will be attracted by the sight
of the feeders and will drop down to
see what it is all about. Warblers. Of
course. must not be looked for at or
near the feeding station, but in the
shrubbery and low down in trees. A
common mistake of the average home
owner is to worry too much about the
identity of such wayfarers. While it
undoubtedly Is nice to know the name,
the bird is just as beautiful and just as
interesting when its name is unknown
to you. There are no names In nature,
and the closer We get to that realization
the surer We are to accept Gods crea-
tures without too much fusstuess.