Evening star., 1948-07-21
This and That
By Charles E. Traceapell

How do Dutch birds compare with American?
They are just about the same, at least some
OF them, according to T. w. L. s. of Sonoma
road, who writes from Bethesda 7ss-a'
Since last fall have been reviving an old
boyhood hobby of mine, bird study. When
arrived in this country from Holland about "a
years ago knew about IS birds there. s:r 3
But in America concentrated on the study
OF the flowers, and did not attempt to look at
the birds more than occasionally. Last sum-
mer, however, Dutch biologist came over
here for special mission. He managed to
learn here and in Colorado about hundreds of
American birds.
Ever since have been an enthusiastic bird
student. 1t SO happens that in the immediate
neighborhood of my house is a virtual paradise
for this thrilling pastime.
II have been able to learn about IS species
most of them by sight, some by voice, or by
both. However, there are plenty of problems
left.
This morning found two dead birds, one of
them young wood thrush, the other un-
known to me, but very likely Philadelphia
vireo. Here is my description:
Length, about inches; bill rather sharp
curved somewhat downward; eyes black, ac-
centuated by the rather indistinct spectacles
but without the ring; breast canary yellow
lower parts white or white blush (not well
preserved, because the specimen was damaged
by carr, rest Of the plumage olive grayish
green, tail father long.
Perhaps the readers Of your column might
be interested in the remarkable fact that re-
lated Dutch species act exactly like their
American cousins The song thrushes there
hop and eat just in the same manner as the
woodthrushes here, the ouzel as the robin;
with chickadees and titmice and woodpeckers
wrens, 1t Is the same story"
Birds, like music, are universal.
Thrushes, for instance, are much the same
wherever you find them.
There are various thrushes in South Amer
lea, others in Europe-and If provincial Amer
ican who had never been out of this country
were to see them, suddenly, he would recognize
them at once.
Each land has its own birds. not found any,
where else. The United States had so many,
indeed, that Colonial America was q real bird
paradise The cult Of the study Of American
birds spread all over the civilized world
In huge elephant folios of plates, these native
species were shown to wealthy people; and in
the scores Of years since the study Of them has
become . property Of artistic people every
where.
That, after all, is one Of the finest things
about bird study.
No real snobbery. no money classification
no, just the interest Of one form Of life in
another.
An intelligent interest, let us insist because
while the plrds look at us, too, they DO not
study us.
One thing makes this study interesting-it
Is that both parties to it are two-legged!
Out of all created things. man and bird are
distinguished by having two legs.
There are many habits shared by both, and
= real bond between them, that of help given
mans agriculture by the songsters.
These things make for rapport, for under
standing. The good points Of bird life are
many, the bad few.
If we had nothing to worry about in this
world except what the birds do to us we would
get of easy.
Not only are they our friends, but they are
good honest examples, in the main. of the
good theory Of action embodied in the old saw
about "live and let i've"
The birds are triumphant notes In SYM
phony understood by all men. Wherever we
see thrush, We understand 1t is a thrush, and
not something else. 1t stands for a good way
of life, one to shame malicious, warning man.
kind How does 1t happen that thrushes and
wrens can get along together amicably, but
that two races of men cannot? What Is it
the birds have that we have not? II any
one could answer these questions, he would be
(or at least should be)sthe hero Of the ages
Until he arrives, the best the rest Of US can
do Is to admire as much as we can, and envy
less. If we can increase admiration OF Others
and keep down envy and Jealousy, maybe after
many days we, too, will become good honest
notes In the true New World symphony Of the
future.