Evening star., 1947-05-12
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH
EAST AVENUE

Dear Sir:
For over week now we've been very much
distressed and then very much elated, by turns,
at the progress 1--WE hope) Of robin who
has really badly broken wing, and SO we've
decided to ask you what you think his chances
are of a return to normal life and flying.
"A week ago his wing just simply dragged
on the ground although he was well able to
hop along very fast fast enough to escape
our fox terrier who chased him under the
garden gate) but this morning it looked to me
to be in perhaps better shape-the wing
didn't drag nearly so near to the ground
And, too, while he has been roosting IN an
evergreen tree on the very lowest branch, last
night we watched him hop from branch to
branch until he reached the very top OF the
tree. and several times it looked as though he
did more f1utterng than hopping to get there,
too.
Two winters ago we had a mocker with
a broken wing-he not only was able to fly
but assumed most belligerent air and was
ready to fight any bird, large or small, who
lit on our feeding station, but his wing wasn't
in the ptiable shape that this robins Is.
I'VE thought that If we could catch him and
take him to the bird house at the Zoo, someone
there could perhaps set his wing and be. OF
real help to the poor creature, but he hops
along so. last we are doubtful OF being able
to ca ure him and decided that perhaps
nature knows best
and the very latest to retire at night and seems
to be able to get plenty to eat. We have thrown
raisins out to him (Which he ignores-he pre-
fers worms, and gets them, tool, and have put
a shallow pie pan. of water out near his roosting
tree He appreciates this,
1.-The saddest thing of all to me is the way
he sings-he1l perch in that old evergreen and
sing his lungs out every evening II that's an
example of false courage. it's too bad some of
us humans don't have little of the same.
.sVerv truly yours, K s. S.
Wings can be injured without being broken.
Human attempts to set wings are often worse
than nothing at all.
In fact, as our correspondent has found out.
many times nothing at all is the very best
treatment possible.
Mature cure" it is called. among human
beings.
Such cure is. of course, all the beasts and
birds have, and often it is enough.
Pet animals and birds, more diseased, must
suffer human attempts to help them.
Here, as in nature, sometimes the attempts
work cut for good, sometimes they fail.
Birds wings are delicate, but strong. They
seem ideally suited for the work they have
escape injury where heavier, more dense ma
terial would surely be hurt.
In most cases, do-nothing is the best policy
in regard to wildbird's wing, whether actually
broken or looking as If broken
Unless one has handled many of these crea-
lures. there is no way of telling Just how
bad the injury is
AS long as the bird eats well, is lively, and
thus able to escape enemies, it has every chance
in the world of finally getting well, Or at
least getting into q condition which enables
1t to get along.
In this 1t is helped, without doubt, by its
lack Of human intelligence.
The channels of immortal helm are not
clogged by thought!
Thus the inflow OF divine power is never
hindered, as with human beings sometimes
It is not exactly courage. false or other
wise. which keeps the robin with an in
jured wing singing: it is. rather, its lack of
knowledge.
Humans pride themselves upon their self
consciousness, and rightly, since it is. above
everything else, what sets them apart from
bird and beast, but at times it seems to get
in the way, and to create conditions inimical
to their best interests