Evening star., 1948-03-26
This and That
By Charles Z. Tracepell
FULLER STREET,

Dear Sir:
Il do not agree with your verdict that the
grackle Is not in the same class with the star.
ling.
Perhaps you have never had an intimate
acquaintance with the grackle.
Il have, and it proved to be one of those
real friendships Following the great hail
storm OF last June picked up a baby srackle
that had been battered from his nest; he had
no feathers. and of course, could not fly.
Ills parents were 50 distressed that they
were powerless, and kept vigilant watch over
their baby, but when dark came knew there
was only one thing to do-bring him inside for
the night.
Next morning bright and early the parents
showed up, the mother with beakful OF soggy
bread for the baby's breakfast.
Now think this showed intelligence: live
IN a large apartment house, yet the parents
knew where their youngster was and made
straight for my window
From the beginning, the little fellow was at
home
He gobbled up the white bread soaked in
milk, and though he chirped to his parents,
twho shrllled and scolded something terrible
Tor several days. he soon became pet
The parent birds maintained their attend
ance for two weeks or more, and the air was
practically blue with their raucous cries, but
the little one became more and more in
different.
when they finally flew away and came no
more think he was relieved; he could turn
his whole attention to me.
mo kitten was ever such pushover for af-
fection as baby grackle; If he did not get all
the attention he thought was coming to him
he futtered to my lap and sat there and I'm
sure he would have purred with contentment
II he'd been SO endowed!
Ia ~
my ear Eyes, his bill is long and Deadly and
though his wings were still too young for flying,
he made good use of his feet following me
around like well-trained puppy.
"At other times he played tricks, hiding and
remaining still as mouse while I searched
frantically. then giving forth triumphant cry
when located. It was game he delighted in
X X X
Bare toes peeping through sandals were
either something he couldn't understand, or
else he decided they were fair game and made
for his amusement.
Small bits of ribbon employed him for hours:
the sight of him backing around the room
hauling ribbon was comic.
LAS for food, he was impartial He ate all
the fruits, ground beef, bread marshmallows
eggs but water was his first love.
THE sight of the dropper sent him into
ecstacieS and he g1lped such quantities that
1t seemed impossible one small body could hold
it.
Baths were taken amid such shrieks of de-
light that I, too, was delighted. The amount of
splashing was astonishing.
He took them in the washbowl in the BATH
room, and soon learned to connect the bowl
with his special pleasure.
When he was three months old put him In
care of the Zoo, and there he is today.
He reserves a welcome for me- and never
fails to recognize me. puts down his food, and
hops to the front of his cage to engage in talk,
and possibly to show off his beautiful feathers,
so again I say, don't tell me grackles are
not intelligent; mine was-and is!
Sincerely, L. H. H."
This column stands corrected-and how!
Personal experience, Of course, Is the only
true way to estimate another living creature,
whether 1t be bird or human.
After reading the above delightful account
OF a friendship, we never will have another
word to say against grackles It Is interesting
to note-and all persons who anticipate bring
ing up birds fallen from nest should take into
account-the amount Of water the young
grackle drank.
Water Is even more important for baby birds
than food. 1t Is best administered ut first
from . medicine dropper. The amount drunk,
Of course, will not actually be as large as 1t
seems, because such droppers do not hold very
much at time
Hiding and playing "peekaboo" are games Of
IN young things.