Evening star., 1948-06-22
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdce1DelI
"WHITEHAVEN STREET

Dear Sir:
Are birds ever insane?
Several weeks song sparrow has knocked
on the windows Of my house, especially select
ing those of my bedroom between and q m
| "He also attacks any car standing in the
driveway.
Il have had the same experience in Florida
with lady cardinal who pounded the same
window for couple of winters.
"Is killing such birds the only remedy?
with most sincere thanks for the pleasure
| your column gives me,
Very sincerely, NJ. L. B."
| Killing is never a remedy for anything.
| World War II demonstrated that.
| The problems we had, we still have; the
solutions somehow seem farther away than ever
In the everyday, killing a wild creature be-
not like is worse than no solution at all.
If left alone, it may cease of ITSELF
That. truly, is what finally happens with
such birds as instanced by our correspondent.
The quitting time, alas. may be far to seek,
but it arrives finally, and the creature is very
much alive, able to seek happiness. in its own
way.
Too hasty human action ends all this, but 1t
is no true solution.
We like the answer of Nature Boy who as
quoted recently, told policeman who stopped
him, Il may look crazy, but I am not. The
IllIlS Is CIaL Eli GIleSe OCueT lOOk
| sane, but most Of them are crazy" The ofncer,
it is reported, said, Buddy. think you have
something there
Birds peck continuously at windows because
they see what they think to be the reflection
of an enemy.
Mostly they give over the effort after TIME.
| 1t is much better to soap the windows, for
period, than to use gun.
Strips OF paper may be hung inside
Usually these efforts are successful. They
| require little effort; but if bird can show
persistence, surely human being, "a little lower
than the angels" can too
| Undoubtedly, some individual birds carry on
| these endeavors to the point where they seem
| insane.
We believe true insanity is unknown among
creatures without conscious minds. Insanity
in all its degrees is a product Of the ego With
out personal IT," there can be no true in
sanity or any approach to it.
Notice we say true insanity"
There can be no question that some animals
approach, or at least seem to approach. a sort
Of insanity.
Elephants, in their old age seem to 60 crazy,
hence the rogue elephant, so-called when it
runs amok
Dogs seem to be insane. when afaicted with
rabies. It may be that all insanity, of q sort,
has its basis in physical disturbances.
Certainly there are eccentric animals, notably
| dogs and cats, that are not normal, as COM
pared with the common run Of dogs and cats.
Insects and fishes have been known to in
dulge in gyrations giving the effect at least to
human watcher, Of some type Of insanity.
Birds probably are free from mental abera-
tions, as we know them.
We are all for giving the great lists Of furred
and feathered creatures q clean bill of health,
when it comes to the mental side.
This would set them apart from human be-
ings, who still are so insane that they destroy
each other every Is years. and in between put
rabbits in little boxes with only their heads
and ears sticking out claiming that they are
making tests for the benefit Of humanity; and
| can fnd nothing better 10 do than make many
inventions the end results Of which are always
misery and death.
Let US all. as members Of the human race, be
very careful before applying the term insane"
70 any honest fellow In fur o. feathers.