Evening star., 1947-12-11
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceDell.
By Charles
"CHEVERLY, Md.

Dear Sir: se4s
For some time we have been mystiied by the
bird feeding shelf. Dishes Of water have also
been missing, knocked of in some way.
"A few nights ago we learned that 1t was
either raccoon or opossum when the little
creature came scrambling up an evergreen and
onto the shelf to sit there and eat. I am sure
you can tell us which 1t is.
"He probably was a foot long, had dark
gray body, some Of the hairs tinged with white,
a lighter-coiored pointed face with a shiny
pink nose, bright black eyes, and his ears were
black inside with an edging of light gray at
the top.
Pink fingers, five on each front foot, and
a ratlke tail about inches or so in length.
"He sat there long time eating raisins and
suet, chewing each bite very meticulously In
fact, he would stay there until we moved. Then
he would slowly turn and leave but soon would
be working hard to get back again. He Is just
as cute as he can be and we are hoping he
will come early enough some evening for our
young son to see him. Sincerely, F. J. H."
&A
How much better, this way Of greeting
young opossum, than calling the police!
More and more people in cities and suburban
sections are getting this good attitude.
Possums are among the most interesting Of
all animals.
They are beautiful. practically harmless:
they still abound, thanks to the hunter holiday
during the war and often come into the heart
Of the city.
Rock Greek Park helps bring them in, since
1t bisects the city.
All outlying sections have a chance to see
these interesting animals.
Raccoons, the big catlike fellows with the
black mask on the face, are also seen, but not
as often reported of recent years as the opos-
sum- They probably are hunted more.
Both raccoon and possum are esteemed by
some as food but to many make pretty poor
fares To all these, and to the thousands who,
in world still at covert war, are growing to
hate the very idea of killing, these two animals
are best as interesting specimens to watch.
Such persons will not grow angry because
they dip paw into goldfish pool. They will
not be sorry they come in the night, both being
nocturnal, and eat suet and raisins put out
primarily for the birds.
Hard and fast lines are difficult to draw, and
are especially obnoxious when applied in such
an interesting indoor outdoors sport as bird
watching. For one to feed birds but be sore
because some other hungry creature comes In
the cold Is somehow to be absurd
We can all of us be absurd in so many ways
that 1t is silly to grow red in the face over
squirrels pigeons, sparrows and others, includ-
ing the starlings, that insist on eating with our
favorite songbirds.
This must be repeated time after time, be-
cause there are still too many bird lovers"
who think because they put out 5 cents worth
of seed that somehow they have a corner on
nature and ought to be able to direct 1t to suit
themselves
They will find, in time. that nature is too big
for them. She will override them, run them
down. in the end, and go her way, but until
that time comes no sensible person ought to
attempt to slap her in the face, because she
might resent IL tn0 much Treat nature CentlV
and she may overlook you for time, but tread
on her toes and she will kick you clear into
kingdom come.
The best way to be, If one runs bird feeding
station, is to regard it as a good lure for good
creatures, and to be willing to be interested and
to receive instruction from all the hungry
things that come In the day or night.
In this way more are fed. more good Is done
the little children Of nature In fur and feath-
efs, and the watcher at the window, by show
ing sportsmanship, tolerance and lack Of dis
elimination, is certainly going to gain more for
himself and his own loved ones.