Evening star., 1948-06-11
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,ueu
- EIGHTH STREET.

S%&g u@3 EIGHTH STREET..
I'VE have bought some small books for
four-year-old and have followed your column
IN The Star, so have been able to help him
identity some Of the birds in this locality.
He came In to describe a bird he had seen,
which we were fairly sure did not exist but
as usual We asked If he had looked it up in the
books. He said he had, but couldn't find it:
turning to 60 out. he looked back and said, I
guess God Just thought up new one
we were fortunate enough to have him see
three whip-poor- wills on the ground at rather
close range. We were first attracted by pair
of shining eyes which were too far apart to
belong to one animal.
"On Southern Maryland farm, and last
week on Virginia road, we saw snow white
possums Are they so>unusual?
I'VE were't told by our babys grandfather that
he had twice found birds dead Zone q hum
mingbird in each instance) where they must
have collided in fight, as the lumminebird's s
bill had, in each instance, penetrated the other
birds body so that it was unable to get it out
again.
I'VE do 50 enjoy your writings and the letters
you receive. Very truly, A. p D."
Small bird books, the smaller the better. are
best for little children.
The sets sold in five and ten" stores do
very nicely.
There are many such volumes to be found
IN regular book stores.
Larger books may come along later, but at
first the few birds and the material about them
make as much as little ones can digest.
One must sympathize with the four-year -old
who said bird he saw must have Just been
thought up" by the Creator
Surely many an Older person will feel the
same way, at times.
1t always is good idea to get in mind at
least little OF the philosophy which does not
put too much stress on Identification.
To want to know what bird Is that" is good,
but to wonder at the beauty of the specimen
even II one does not know, is best.
There is no question here of despising know
ledge. And certainly one would not wish to
do so before & child. Therefore it may be best
irf case one cannot identify specimen for a
little one, simply to say that 1t exists is very
lovely, and will be watched with interest until
the name can be ascertained.
Hummingbirds are very vigilant defenders of
their nests.
Despite their smallness, they will attack birds
many times their size.
In all probability the hummers found with
beaks through other birds had rammed their
tiny swords deep into the enemies.
Then they could not get loose.
They were collisions, all right but intended
ones
The ruby-throated hummingbird is marve-
lous creature, and we are sure that it is just as
wonderful, whether the observer knows its
name or not
It is the only hummer that comes here but
it is enough, being one of the most beautiful OF
its kind.
Fortunately it is very common bird in and
around Washington.
Any garden in which petunias or gladioluses
are grown will have the hummingbird
1t will dip its long bill into the flowers
seeking not only nectar" but also the minute
insects after the sweetness
Hummingbirds must have insects for baby
food. just as all other birds do, but 1T may be
realized that the insects must be very small
ones. The hummer nest is only the size of
walnut shell, and each tiny egg no larger than
the tip of little finger.
Care must be taken to distinguish the mother
hummingbird from one of the moths. The lat
ter. indeed, does resemble a hummer, but it
is not q bird. and will be seen not to be, on
close inspection; and this inspection is easy
for the moth will permit one to stand directly
over It, thing no hummer will do Is friendly
- 1t Il.