Evening star., 1948-06-21
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trace1ueH
"FAIRLAND, MD.

"FA1RLAND MD.
Dear Sir:
Your column is one of the bright spots Of
my day.
L began reading it during the war, when
things looked blackest, and we were cooped
up in tiny apartment where one courageous
mockingbird was the extent of bird ac-
quaintance.
Here we have a wealth of birds but little
time to enjoy them, like so many country
people.
Several times in cold weather, a Carolina
wren or Maryland yellow throat has got in
through that long-neglected broken pane In
our basement
cat playing huntress and the little stray beat
ing its wings against the glass in desperation.
They never seem to have sense enough to
go out the way they came in, and we must al
ways 60 to the rescue.
"Our cat, always problem with birds signed
her own death warrant this spring, when we
found her kittens playing with beautiful dead
mockingbird she had caught, brought home,
and thoughtfully laid in their feeding pan.
ITO me, the mockingbird Is the most gallant
of them all-he just brims over with the joy
of living-and to see him thus laid low!
"We love cats So far our remaining three
have confined their predatory habits to an
occasional rabbit, for which our garden is duly
grateful.
Our Siamese Is terrific fighter and comes
home every few weeks literally torn to shreds.
HE used to be a beauty, but he is getting to
look like Bowery bum. Please tell me what
Is the best way to treat these deep decorations.
Also, what can be done for cats infected
eye-all ours have this infection?
Among our birds we identified an indigo
bunting the first week of May. For the past
two weeks we have had goldflnches.
The brown thrashers are busy among the
oak leaves in the woods
Sincerely yours, D. NJ k"
Arlington Va.
Dear Sir:
In the last three years I've tried many
times to raise baby robins of various ages
which had fallen from their nests. but was
never successful In keeping them alive for
more than few days
so when a neighbor came with another
baby robin wasn't bit hopeful but decided
that at least could try again.
This one was well feathered but still had
baby fuzz on his head He was very easy to
feed-and I was kept busy digging worms
which I supplemented with ground beef, with
q tiny bit of earth added, and Of course water
now and then. I fed him every hour and
sometimes oftener as he always seemed to be
hungry.
wire screen over 1t at night, and in the day
| time we'd take the screen off and he'd perch
on the edge and talk to us whenever we ap-
| preached The last few nights he was with
| us, he protested so much about being In the
basket that let him perch on roll of paper
| towels in the kitchen.
| After few days. Id take him out in the
garden and go away for a distance Of 80
| feet and mother robin would feed him. I'm
| certain she wasn't his mother for he was picked
| up half block away.
We had Chi-Chi eight days. then he was
| able to fly into tree and his foster mother
| took complete charge.
Would it have been all right to put tiny
| bit of red nail polish on his foot? We did so
want to mark him so we would be able to
distinguish him from the others.
Very truly, H. L. Y.
"P. S.-We enjoy your column. 1t really
| makes The Star complete"
A little bright nail polish is good thing
to use to mark bird raised by hand. One
woman in Washington used nail polish and
so knew the bird she had raised for about
two years
If bird is kept for four or five weeks, nc
| mark of Identification is needed, because it
probably will come back of its own accord each
spring. and make itself known by its sheer
friendiness.
There Is no mistaking the right bird. marked
or unmarked but usually more than eight days
Is necessary to get the bond Of friendship
welded.