Evening star., 1948-03-15
This and That
Bu Charles E. TrdceDeH
MOUNT VERNON HIGHWAY.

Dear Sir:
Living on the river side of the Mount Ver-
non highway, have many birds here the year
around.
81 feed them entirely on the ground, and
have a good-sized bath for them sunk into
the earth
IT believe this is the way the birds like it best
During the most severe weather there were
six crows that were not too proud to gather
the grain and cornbread and hard boiled egg
I had out several times day.
There were Il doves at one time recently.
"While attracting the birds have not felt
it right to keep cats, too, but I have cared
for two deserted ones this winter.
"Your comment on cats to be taken to Europe
recalls story about cats I discovered in an
early juvenile magazine in the rare book de-
partment of the Library of Congress.
"It was q notice put up in London about
cats to be taken to st. Helena with Napoleon,
as follows:
".To the public
every athletic full-grown cat, every adult
female puss, and every thriving, vigorous kitten
that can swill milk, pursue ball OF thread,
or fasten its young fangs in dying mouse
"'By order of His Majesty's ministers
"'God save the King!
"A large number of genteel families have
embarked at Plymouth and are about to pro-
ceed with the regiment appointed to accompany
the ex-emperor Napoleon to the Island Of
ST. Helena.
"'The island is now dreadfully infested with
rats, and His Majesty's ministers have deter
mined that it be forthwith effectually cleared
of those obnoxious animals.
".An agent has been deputed to purchase as
many cats and thriving kittens as can posi-
lively be secured for money in short space
Of time.
"Well disposed citizens who possess cats and
kittens are invited to bring them to His Maj
esty's agent at the Bell and Ringer Tavern at
Bridge street, Tuesday evening next at 6
o'clock
Yours truly, E. K. E.
Whether cats and birds mix depends upon
the cats
There are cats and CATS and some of them
readily kill birds and some OF them do not.
1t is favorite mistake of persons who do
not like these animals to claim that all cats
catch birds
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
In our own experience we have known cats
to watch birds at feeding station for hours
without offering to molest them.
These same creatures even liked squirrels
and actually would play leapfrog with them.
A little work on the part OF the human ele-
ment in the scene, in reproval, and little
play with a cup of cold water, will break up
any disposition to harm birds.
Our correspondent is right in believing that
the ground is favorite feeding place with
the bird population.
No one need go to the expense of building
formal feeding station, for the good earth
is the great feeding table.
II X
FALLS CHURCH, Va
Dear Sir:
"a beautiful sight greeted me on my first
glance out of the window this morning, that
of the cardinal pair which have been with
me all winter at their first bll-to-bill feeding
since last spring.
While have had the usual wintering birds
including the juncos, there has been thrush
type of sparrow recently. Editors note-Prob-
ably the fox sparrow)
Il am awaiting the song of the pewee before
can be convinced that spring is just around
the corner" Sincerely yours, o. E. c."
1t won't be long now-everybody thinks of
spring, especially the cardinals and the other
birds.
They know much better than human beings.
May it not be that they know much more in
other ways than warning humanity?
To what pass has our universal education
brought usl =