Evening star., 1948-07-06
This and That
Bu Charles E. TrGce1Ueu
"W KTRKE STREE


Your column is enjoyed not only by my
family, but by bird loving invalid many miles
from Washington.
Among the first broods raised in our garden
this spring, was one of four young starllngs, OF
which one is pure white.
He was at first rather dull in color but is
now beautiful shining white, and much more
attractive than others of his kind.
I'm low bush near the house there are
three very new thrushes, and in grape basket
on the porch Wrens are just setting.
''On the first day Of the latters residence
they had apparently not noticed the other nest
so near, until the mother thrush arrived with
food
"One very busy wren stopped his work and
looked down in surprise.
He then flew to the bush and perched on
the edge of the nest beside its owner, who
seemed Hospitality inclined, for she showed no
sign of alarm or resentment.
Both birds sat for several moments looking
down at the little family with visible pride and
admiration
THE wren seemed to feel that this fine
brood was a credit to the neighborhood in
which he had settled, and returned to his build
ing with renewed enthusiasm.
Cordially yours x l. M"
This is a pretty picture of inter-nest rela-
tions but alas, it must be viewed with some
suspicion.
Jenny Wren is not an enthusiast about the
eggs or neStlings of other BIRDS
She sometimes pecks holes in their eggs, or
even pushes them out of the nest.
Perhaps she might now and then. even kill
few baby birds, but this will not happen often.
She is little, but mighty, vixen, If you will,
but q mighty swell bird.
She knows how to handle life and sees to 1t
that her own brood gets the best, even If she
has to do dirty trick or two to others. upon
occasion.
She may look pretty, on the edge Of another
nest but she has no real business there, and
should be shooed away, If she fingers
~
ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
Several years ago had a lot of fun with
squirrels travelling over lines had suspended
between trees where had peanuts attached
"You wrote several times about the bomb
diving by birds.
We'll. we had squirrel visiting us regularly
this spring for his little portion. All was weE
as long as he kept on the ground, but one day
he took the overhead route on heavy wire,
about 40 feet up.
"He got as far as the big maple tree, when
suddenly male blue jay boted out and at him
and poor squirrel had one awful time.
THE jay would give him his full impact and
several times he had the squirrel hanging on
one left hind foot on the wire.
THE jay probably had nest along that
route and resented the intrusion.
After quite spell. the squirrel finally got
across to the big lamp pole, went down to earth
and We have not seen him since.
Sincerely, always interested, E. L. W."
y
Squirrels are born tight rope walkers.
OF course, they have four feet, instead of two
but that does not mitigate against their fine
showmanship in the air.
There is perhaps no other animal in the
world that can walk a telephone wire better
with more aplomb, or show more pleasure in
the transit
The squirrel, naturally enough loves it. He
takes to wires happily, easily and to the man
ner-not "manor'-born.
The blue jay is one of the best bomb divers
He is afraid of nothing that walks or flies.
From man to cat or bird, he darts directly at
them all. pecking them sharply on the heads
or backs, all In the days work.