Evening star., 1948-11-17
This and That
BIZ Charles r. TraceDell

A fight or "wisp" Of so or more Wilson's
snipe came down the other afternoon IN
Wisconsin avenue back yard.
This is the famous Jack Snipe," or common
snipe, Of the sportsman.
1t is about IL inches long, color above brown
ish black, with orange and brown stripes, or
at least so they seem to the eye OF the OBJ
server.
The bill is long and slender, the legs fairly
long, but not too much so.
There are two stripes on the head.
4 y
This bird has many popular names including
English snipe, American snipe, meadow snipe,
marsh snipe, bog snipe, gutter snipe, shadbird,
shad spirit, and aleWifebird (the latter refer
ring to a fish,
The snipe likes best marshy ground, ana
Is said to be found, usually, not too far from It.
At migrating time 1t leaves this vicinity
sometimes in September to late November.
The bird hasn't too much tail.
The bill is brownish flesh color.
Its scientific name contains the word deli
cata," which refers to It's eating quality.
The nest is a grass lined depression, usually
in marshy place
Eggs are three or four, grayish- olive, streaked
with chestnut.
At breeding time it puts on a singular flight
in wide circles, making sort OF hummlng
noise with its wings.
After this performance, it flies low, making
a yelping type of noise. Some listeners say 1t
cackles and maybe it does.
Hunters say that when flushed from nest,
1t says "scape, scape, scape."
That Is matter Of opinion.
If bird makes q noise even family like
escape" as it flies away, the human mind will
Immediately associate the noise with the idea,
but probably the bird has no such idea" at all.
In the interest Of truth, one has to be very
careful in attributing mans words to any bird.
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the United States birds speak in English,
whereas in France they talk" in French?
The food Of this bird consists of crane flies,
grasshoppers, craWfishes, locustS and diving
beetles The latter destroy some of the natural
food of fishes.
Altogether, the Wilson's snipe may be re-
garded as a bird beneficial to man.
The snipes and sandpipers form family In
the order of shore or Wading birds.
Most of them are highly regarded as game
birds. They perhaps need all the protection
they can get, for they eat many pests, such as
army worms cutworms, cabbage and cotton
worms, boil weevils. rice weevils, mosquitoes
and even Texas fever ticks
Wilson's snipe spends its winters in the
Southern States, and as far south as Brazil.
Blue Jays seem to. have increased this year.
Probably as many is were clustered around
our house and yard one day recently.
Their squawks and screams made pretty
music in the air.
One or more was in circulation at all times
| 50 that flashes of blue seemed to be standard
| The lays did not make much noise as the
| 100 grackles that were present one afternoon
recently.
Jays are good to have around. Some people
dislike them but We believe that any one who
really concentrates on watching them for a
| time will end up by admiring them.
Those persons who take up bird feeding for
the first time this fall, should have no fear
of the jay He will not chase smaller birds
away. and will contribute a note of humor to
| the bird scene.
In these times, when humor is much wanted
everywhere, the blue jay stands as natural
fun maker Of the highest type.