Evening star., 1947-04-14
This and That
By Charles E. Traceuell.

ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
There appeared on the bath last
week bird I have never seen before
IN the o'clock roundup.
II was attracted by the broad white
band around the neck, so pronounced
that when a startling drove it off, all I
could remember was the impression of
woodpecker.
ut had a rather long bill. and a
somewhat fiat crest, dark gray on back
| and lighter under wings In my bird
guide, the nearest Is the belted king
fisher.
Then there is a group of brown
backed birds, not as large as the robin,
with light shadings, gray underparts,
and heavy black mark on the breast
They stay together and seem to find
something in the grass they like.
- VERY cordially, E. H."
The first bird was the kingfisher
Those in the group probably were
fox sparrows.
The belted kinghsher is a common
summer resident, and some are seen In
winter here; average, March 81 to No
vember Z.
y \
MANASSAS, Va.
Dear Sir:
II am very much interested in your
page and the birds, and have lived here
81 years and thought 1 knew all the
birds.
Il have a large lawn and trees and
bushes, and the migrating birds often
stop on their trips.
But I had flock of blackbirds in
March had never seen before. They
settled in big tree on the lawn, and
when they began dropping to the grass
some had red bases to their wings and
some had light bar crosswise at the
top OF the wing. They were not so
large as a grackle; no CLASSY eyes.
Please tell me what they were.
Respectfully, c. D."
These birds were red-winged black
birds. They are beauties, but not as
often seen as in the past.
We have never had any in our own
ALEXANDRIA,, Va.
Dear Sir:
Thank you for your column
Il know you are a believer in live
and let live among the birds, but
want to tell you why I heartily agree
with the present campaign to eliminate
the starting
Last spring two bluebird families
were raised in our backyard birdhouse.
No need to tell of the happiness those
bluebirds brought. They have been
here two winters eating raisins and
Suet on our windowsills
Last month we put up a new bird
house (your dimensions) on a fence
post 10 feet from our windows and
the old pair of bluebirds started mov-
ing in within week
After nine or ten days the nest was
apparently finished and the female
started nesting, the male bringing her
tldbitS occasionally
Five days later pair of starlings
drove the bluebirds out and took over
the nest.
IT say: Shoot!
Sincerely yours. E. s. L."
On the theory of this kind CORE
spondent (who of herself wouldn't kill
a fly, of coursel, all the persons of one
race ought to be shot just because there
happens TO be criminal in another
It is difficult to see where shooting
ever solved any problem. Two terrible
World Wars offer little proof of solution
by bullets.
'GREENVALE STREET.
Dear Sir:
Your today's column rejoiced my
soul. I am glad to find you are a
human being. You are fortunate in
deed to be able to live your own
philosophy.
Come over sometime and look out
of my window I would like to become
better acquainted with you. When
finish college I am going to write a
thesis on: The Fetish of Phi. D.
Sincerely yours, w. w. E."
All living persons are attending the
College of Life, but not all of them
manage to get rs much out Of the
course as Col. w. w. T.