Evening star., 1947-05-10
This and That
By Charles E. TrGceWeU.
"THIRTY-THIRD STREET


Perhaps you recall my asking you
last month If could expect the catbird
trained to eat out OF my hand last
summer to return this year and when I
could expect him.
well, he returned April 80, the same
day that the wisteria burst into bloom
and fragrance and humble bees put in
their APPEARANCE.
LAS soon as he saw me he came right
to his usual branch nearest the kitchen
door. I went in and got him some
raisins, but before he came to my hand
he sang me soft, sweet song for about
five minutes, and then hoped on my
hand and ate his raisins.
He seems larger than last year and
Is very beautiful.
''The inclosed snapshot was taken last
summer.
Sincerely yours, H. r. S.,
Colonel, U. s. A., Retired"
Many retired Army and Navy men
make bird watching hobby, with the
fascinating results detailed above.
Retired persons from all lines of ifes
endeavor will find the birds an engaging
interest, one happily carried on in the
home garden in spring and summer, and
from the window in winter.
There is really no need to 60 galloping
all over the country to enjoy the birds.
They come to you!
At least many of them do. and these
include some OF the best.
Americas catbird Is one Of the prize
specimens.
He is alert, beautiful, interesting, me-
lodious.
Persons who may only have heard him
utter his famous catlike cry may Won
der about that last.
But few birds-and some think none
excel him in the singing line.
The trouble is that most persons, hear
ing him when he really sings, think
they are listening to mocking bird!
The catbird. as distinguished from the
mocker, does not sing at night. He
loves the daytime, as a sensible bird
should, and goes to bed with the chick
ems. Old Mocker Is a sort of night owl
among the songbirds. He is the fellow
who sings all night long when the moon
is full
The catbird makes q special appeal
to all persons who prefer good deport-
ment. The catbird never swaggers, as
does the mocker. He Is not intent,
ever, in chasing all cats and dogs out of
a yard. The catbird is reticent, one
might say.
If his nest is assaulted. and the babies
carried of, he mourns, but within limits
He Is that sort Of fellow. And some
human beings are not that sort, them
selves, nor do they like persons who are.
When they fight. they fight all over,
and when they roar, they roar.
Hence the catbird may not appeal
to them, but to those who hide their
own feelings In life, and who leave
parading to others, the catbird will make
supreme appeal.
X
ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
Our mocker is back after being away
all winter. Here is a fellow I'll put
against anything that wears feathers for
variation Of song and quality of tone.
Beginning about o'clock, he directs his
potpourri of song, sometimes far into the
night.
He seems to be capable of every
modulation, from the clear mellow tone IS
of the wood thrush to the loud harsh
cries of the blue jay. A few bars of soft
melody follow the clear sharp notes OF
the piccolo, and short staecato OF chut,
chut. chut. Then loud whistle to
which the pup in the yard answers
with a howl
He may have a mean disposition, as
many human prima donnas have, but he
sure can give me a full evenings en-
tertainment of all songsters mingled
into one.
Yours, E. W."
If We weren't sure this correspondent
knew his birds, we would be inclined to
feel that he, too, had been listening
to c4thirdi