Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-16
This and That
BIZ Charles r. Tracetuell

Lily Belle, the pet robin, returned last Sun
day to say hello" before flying South.
This Is her seventh year, but 1t was the first
time we had seen her in 1947
In the spring of 46 she came back. but
Immediately was chased out of the yard by
several robins who had got there before her.
Lily at that time resented their intrusion,
but accepted defeat with good grace, and that
was the last we saw of her that year.
This spring and summer there had been no
sign OF Lily Belle who was picked I'D of the
sidewalk on terribly hot summer day seven
years ago.
We had about given her up when suddenly
there she was siding along her favorite branch
OF the maple tree by the garage.
That chatter was hers, and hers alone; no
other robin male or female, has such a "line'
as Lily Belle.
Lily received gift of raisins with the best
grace but was more interested in talking.
There seems little doubt that this chatter is
her way of talking.
Other robins have it, to some extent but
none as smooth and unimpeded.
Were Lily girl, she would be one with an
unlimited gift of gab
Several authors have tried to put such girls
and women on paper. with some success, but
mostly such characters, with their monologs,
are tiresome.
They are tiresome in real life, and tiresome
on paper.
A little will go long way.
Lily Belle eased along her branch and never
once stopped her talk.
Cable, gable, gable
This Is one Of the oldest sounds In bird
land, and Lily Belle Is an expert.
She was named, by the way, after the
character in that song about Texas, about
the rabbits rushing around the bush, etc,
Deep in the Heart of Texas"
ore ~, 41a S>. -
tree where she belonged.
She had fallen out early one morning, and
when found was hopping along the sidewalk
not long for this world, because baby birds
cannot get back into the nest, nor can their
parents put them back.
Bringing up young bird without benefit OF
natural parents Is not difficult, but an initial
reluctance must be overcome in many eases.
Young birds must be fed at least ono. an
hour. all they will eat Of small insects, bits Of
small worm, yolk of hard boiled egg, bread and
milk, scraped beef or liver.
The bird finally will not swallow any more,
and the lesson Is over until the next hour.
They do not need to be fed at night In
fact, it may be surmised, from Lily's expert
ence, that they actually need not be fed every
hour. She was A.WOL. behind an old bureau
at the back of the garage for more than "A
hours.
When the bureau finally was moved, she
came out cheeping. Her fast Of many hours
had not harmed her in the least
Lily usually comes back to the yard every
spring. She is now of good robin age, and
maybe this will be her last trip. We hope not.
She is an unusual bird, who now has travelled
many thousands of miles, and the years be-
tween, and still has not forgotten the human
friends who made all of it possible for her.
Birds brought up "by hand usually develop
traits and habits which set them apart from all
others, and thoughs the casual observer might
not see any difference. the interested person
knows the very moment the faithful bird
comes back home.