Evening star., 1949-03-31
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. Truce,Dell


The old mockingbird was splitting his
throat.
Two days Of the warmer weather had gone
not uttered . note.
All the other birds-the cardinals titmice,
chickadees. and % on-were singing their
heads OF.
Our old mocker uttered nary a note.
And why?
Because his mate hadn't arrived. Reason
enough!
And then she appeared
And that was when he began to sing.
Such . cascade Of melody seldom is heard
even from . mockingbird.
Those persons who assert that this bird
actually does not mock should have heard
him that warm day.
He Knocked everything from wood thrush
not yet present-to the common sparrows.
This is clear proof that these birds hold
tunes in memory.
Our mocker sang loud and clear, and all
afternoon.
The next morning he was At 1t early.
The notes came rolling out. one after the
other, varied. sometimes . little confused,
but always loud.
AS the day wore on, the songs became
louder and louder
We were afraid that mockingbird would
do something to his vocal chords
Belonging to the great group Of singing
birds, he is one Of the king singers Of them
all, the world around.
Mockinsbirds, catbirds and the brown
thrashers are those mimic thrushes." as
they are called, that come to this section.
OF the group, the mocker seems most
closely related to the real thrushes
Often the mockingbird nest is placed in .
shrub or hedge near the house.
From four to six eggs are laid. These are
blue green, freckled with brown.
The male mocker spends most OF the nest
ing time flying at enemies and imaginary
enemies Of the nest.
In doing this he makes q perfect nuisance
Of himself. flying at humans cats, dogs and
birds.
In flying down at human, the mocker
skins the head at the same time makes .
nasty grating noise.
This sound is uttered all day long, finally
getting on the nerves Of the householder.
Those who are not particularly interested
in bird life will resent this action Of the
mockingbird. Some have been known to
seize broom and swing wildly at the bird.
There is not, Of course, much chance Of
hitting him.
Friends of birds would never think Of
resenting its actions at this season. They
might wish the creature would give up his
assault every time they take the car out
of the garage, but their regard for him
would keep them from striking at him.
It is always . good plan, however to wear
q hat, and shield the eyes with the hand!
The mockingbird nest is composed Of
grasses and weeds. and Is lined with fine
rootlets, moss and occasionally cotton.
The list of noises initiated by our mocking-
bird is long.
It includes the dog bark, the rooster crow,
the hen at her nest, the sound Of wheel
barrow, whistling boy, the songs Of other
birds, even the notes Of piano. and the
sound of the old-fashioned "tinny" phono-
graph Of the long past.
In the old days. mockingbirds were used
as Gagged birds, but fortunately this is no
longer permissible.
Mockers that remained here all winter
have now been joined by their mates, so
that from now on most suburban neighbor-
hoods will have nesting Knockers.
Two or three nests are made each season.
The young are soon able to care for them
selves.
Some people confuse the mockingbird and
the catbird Both are gray, but the mocker
has q longer tall and shows white In his
wings when he flies.
The catbird wears black cap. and has no
white tn the wings.