Evening star., 1947-07-03
This and That
By Charles E. TraceUelI.
LEGATION STREET

/.
Dear Sir:
Il found dead bird on my walk yesterday of
species have seen about but cannot name
From tip OF beak to end of tail it was q shade
less than inches. Tail inches long. It had
rather even color of brown, lighter below, ex-
cept the large wing and tail feathers, which
were slightly reddish as per sample. Can you
identify it? I think it is very common bird
that should know. Respectfully, F. L. L. H."
The bird probably was a Carolina wren This
is a fine bird, whose tribe in this vicinity was
almost exterminated as the result of severe
storm in February, 1918.
Since then this largest Of wrens has been
staging a comeback in this vicinity
1t is a permanent resident of Washington
and nearby counties, being regarded as Of a
sedentary disposition and often found near
small streams or. other water.
It has loud clear call of sort of whistling
character; it makes this sound at all times of
the year. and especially in late fall and early
winter.
Its feathers are fine, it has a good tail, as all
In the fall it will come close to houses, and
will even make sort of winter nest or retreat
in rolled up awnings and the like.
It may be attracted by display of meal
worms or other live food.
At times it samples the seeds, suet, raisins
and other foods at feeding stations. but mostly
prefers to eat by itself OF the sorts OF foods 1t
rustles up for itself.
It loves insects of all kinds, and has to its
credit in the Southern States a great con-
sumption of boil weevils.
The common song is sometimes written as
"tea KETTLE tea kettle, tea kettle" which phrase
may give an idea of it.
The nest is put in boxes, logs, shrubs, or al
most any place convenient for the bird, some
times even on the ground.
The eggs are from four to six, white, speckled
with brown.
1t is a matter for wonder that this claim of
the various States did not go farther than 1t
did
Thus even today many persons speak of the
redbird as the Kentucky cardinal This one is
easy to explain. It was the popularity OF James
Lane Aliens book that did it.
But that old turtle dove you see in your yard
in Maryland or Virginia is just the same dove
they have down in the Carolinas, and probably
came from there
on some sections it is called the Virginia night
ingale.
California has a long list of birds named
after it, that is the name California" is placed
ahead of the birds common name, such as
California horned owl, jay screech owl, thrasher,
towhee and others.
Canada puts its name before bird names in a
large way. There not only is Canada bird,
Just SO (the white throated sparrow, but there
also are Canada hycatchers, geese, jays,
nuthatches. warnings, tanagers, and warblers
The word American of course, goes ahead
of scores of common birds. 1t has been the
custom in recent years to drop out this prefix.
Most of the States, however, claim some birds
as peculiarly their own, and like to prefix
the State name.
Thus Arizona has the Arizona bob-white,
cardinal, hooded oriole, jay, junco, quail,
screech owl, woodpecker and pyrrhuloxia. It is
easy to see which of these (hooded oriole
and pyrrhuloxia) have real right to the
prefix
Arkansas claims only an Arkansas goldhnch,
greenback and kingbird.
Indiana mostly claims no birds at all, and
even the word Indian" Is prehxed only to .
hen.