Evening star., 1948-06-25
This and That
By Charles E. Traceueu
WASHINGTON I

Dear Sir:
Two widife observations in nearby Vir-
glnia this week may interest some of your
readers.
While tending fire in our farmhouse yard
IN the evening, at about the time whip poor
will usually begins its song in a neighboring
tree, 1 was startled to see this bird suddenly
appear near my feet in front of the bonfire.
"H showed no fear and judged it was mo-
mentarily blinded by the glare of the flames
"Perched on a bit of wood, it poured forth
its cry as long as remained still, the feathers
OF the chest heaving with the energy behind
each note.
"As second occurrence, came upon a wood
chuck climbing a tree!
This was in bright sun, near noon. The
woodchuck clunsily worked its way about four
feet up slender sapling, much as small child
would. and balanced itself on a bough while
feeding hungrly on succulent leaves
Respectfully, R. M T."
X X
Many small animals are tree climbers to a
limited extent
Old Woody can do it, and the tiny chipmunk,
he of the bright eyes.
The latter can make their way 10 to Is
feet up a tree, there to feast on bird eggs, or
sometimes on baby birds
That doesn't happen often, however, and
should in no way color our thinking about this
elf of the animal creation
Some dogs are good tree climbers, at least
to a certain extent With them, of course, it
is mostly q matter of taking a good run and
going as high as they can on the momentum
secured.
Some trees. owing to odd trunk formations,
offer easy progress for the nonclimbers
HAMILTON STREET.
Dear Sir
On April - very lght-colored female robin
began building nest in the Paul Scarlet rose
euSh just Outside the Sunroom window. Three
days of almost frantic work and the nest was
completed.
During this time two male robins-obvi-
ously rivals-were almost constantly nearby in
the backyard.
They offered no help but neither did they
appear to interfere in any way with her con-
struction operations
After few days she returned to the nest
and left beautiful blue egg. Three more eggs
appeared in as many days, most of which she
spent in the nest.
About this time we noticed that one of the
males had retired from the scene-only the
expectant father paced the floor of the back
yard.
Two weeks after the first egg was laid. one
Of the eggs Matched. Only after this event
was the male seen assuming any family re-
sponsbility other than that of entertainer, for
he often would serenade from a perch in a
NEARBY tree.
He began bringing food to the female and
she in turn gave it to the fuzzy little nestlings
"As the young ones and their appetites grew,
the father assumed larger share of the
responsibility for finding and delivering the
food.
Just two weeks after the first egg Matched
the hedglings left the nest, on one of the
rainiest days in May. OF course. they con-
tirued to call almost continuously for food and
both parents were kept quite busy.
Two days after the nest was vacated, the
female came back and appeared to be inspect
ing it. After a two-day interval. she returned
again and began remodeling and redecorating
it. With day-and-a-haf Of almost unceasing
labor she had it looking as good as new.
Then she took a rest of IL days before
laying the first egg in the renovated nest.
Each succeeding day she laid another egg
until there were four.
Again just two weeks after the first egg was
laid, two of the eggs Matched. Next day the
third and fourth Matched.
And now Cock Robin is very busy again
helping the missus feed the second brood
Sincerely, E. E. B.
One reason robins can use their nests over
Is the way the babies have of delivering their
excreta in white capsules, which the mother
room calmly drops from the nest.
This Is . form of sanitation which has come
down unchanged from ancient days.