Evening star., 1948-07-29
This and That
By Charles E. Trace1uell
"DERWOOD, Md.

- So "DERWooD, Md.
Dear Sir
Il live on farm near Olney. few morn
ings ago I scattered grain out for my hens,
then went into the hen house to fill the hopper
with laying mash, when heard the old turkey
hen, with terrified squawk, run for shelter,
and after her f1uttered all the chickens
When looked out the door, there about
20 feet away, stood an immense bird, with
a very long neck and long legs.
TITS body was as large as a turkey, though
chunky. instead of slim, with the general color
pure white.
LAS soon as it saw me, and before could
get more accurate description, and with it's
long legs dangling, 1t spread its wings and
rapidly flew away
1T must have been some kind of water
bird. We have no body of water nearer than
five miles. Can you help me out on the iden-
tity?
II would also like to tell you that two weeks
ago when I went to let a chicken hen with a
fine brood of baby chickens less than a month
old out of her wooden coop, there inside the
door lay black snake, with three dead chick
ems around it, and upon counting them, two
more had been eaten, evidently, making the
shake so satiated that 1t would not move
THE man who killed 1t, said it was four
feet long.
"He also said he did not like to kill black
snakes, because they were useful.
How do you feel about them?
Very truly, M. B. B."
~
The large white water bird may have been a
little blue heron in its adult, or white, stage.
They are often seen in and around the
National Geological Park.
1t is only after two years the birds take
on the pure white color and then only when
they are in perfect plumage.
Sometimes they are mistaken for egrets
because of this white plumage.
The black snake is regarded as the farmers
friend.
These large snakes look very ugly, but actu-
ally are harmless to mankind and do a good
service In rodent control.
1t is only now and then that they catch
birds.
As for baby chicks black snakes will take
them, now and then. when they come across
them.
All wild creatures are opportunists They
eat as they can and If it chances that they
run onto an unguarded hen and family, we'll
something is likely to disappear.
But as rule the ugly black snake does
pretty good job of letting birds alone.
He Is not q good tree climber. but can 60
10 or so feet high.
There is another FORM called the mountain
black snake, that is a real enemy to bird life.
He is known to get birds at every oppor-
tunity, being a real tree climber, able to get
to almost any nest.
The regulation black snake, however, Is
generally regarded as harmless.
He has many friends in the country except
among those persons-and they are many
who do not like snakes in any FORM
n
There Is theory that no one would be
afraid of snakes If some one else had not
inculcated the fear into him as child.
Others doubt this.
It seems to them that the fear of snakes,
far from being purely psychological is
genuine thing In itself.
There is good reason for this. Snakes 60
too far back In time. They are ancient OF
ancient; they bring back to even the Jun
thinking something of primeval terror.
Let US remember that, no matter how bad
the world seems today, it once was worse,
far worse. Once upon a time man could be
hanged for stealing q loaf of bread. II we can
consolidate our gains. maybe in time we can
become "as wise as the serpent" and as mild
as the lamb. 1t worth trying Tor.