Evening star., 1949-08-27
This and That
,Ry Charles E. Tracewel

s., lAS ID - SaQ Story, put IL may Aelp Some
people not to make the same mistake.
He was baby cardinal with scarcely any
tail. and only the vestige Of a crest.
He was brought indoors, where the best
possible care was taken of him. but no one
could think Of a name for him.
He was fed every half hour. every hour,
but often would not eat.
He liked water best. administered with
medicine dropper. .os,. ar..-;oa
10 He had some pleasant features, but stin
none could be put into name.
AA*H
This worried those trying to help him.
Usually . name for q pet, animal, bird or
fish, grows into being.
This little fellow remained nameless.
Nothing could be thought of that fitted.
Somehow this seemed an i'll omen. It Is
no longer fashionable to think or at least
speak Of anything being ill-omened but it is
q natural fact, at least to some minds.
The little bird had no name. and it did
not seem right.
He ate for three weeks, and then one
morning was found dead in his box.
Three days before he died he had been
given his choice Of some sand, and he ate .
little of this.
The idea that birds need grit is persistent
but 1t must be questioned whether baby
birds need 1t in any form. Their little giz-
yards are not tough enough yet.
The bird ate the same as usual, which was
not very WELL and then was dead.
He had named himself. alas.
His little name was Grit.
to bring up young birds that may have fallen
from the nest should always keep in mind
that such birds are likely to be injured.
either by pressure of fumbling hands. or IN
striking the ground in the fall.
Then, too, there are any number OF dis
eases inherent in the bird makeup.
No one. not even an expert, may hope to
put his finger on all that may be wrong.
AL he can do is play safe. as far as pos
sible, and then take what happens.
That is life.
The young bird in the nest gets no grit
except what may adhere to the worms ana
bugs brought to it by the parents.
It is probable that no bird raised BY hand
should be offered pure sand or any sort OF
sritror even earth until 1t has begun to ny.
Then it should be taken to the outdoors
and put down in the grass. close to bare
spot Of earth.
II it then pecks at earth. instinct is tell
ing it what to do. and what comes then is
up to nature.
The kind hearted person. trying his or her
best, viii be inclined to place the blame for
the demise, II hand fed, upon the self.
This Is not true. for no one can know but
that the creature would have died IN any
event.
But the best thing to do as far as can be
Judged Is to withhold the addition Of grit or
even garden soil from the baby bird diet
except in the manner noted.
The bringing up Of young bird must De
accepted with trepidation at best. There are
many failures.
The actual feeding will be the least Of
ones worries. Some water should be given,
and such foods as liver, beef, yolk Of hard
boiled egg, bits Of bread and milk, pablum
and milk, at times pieces Of raisin.
Feeding should be every half hour. or
every hour. There will be periods in which
the bird appetite wanes. since without doubt
insects and worms are best but difncult and
often impossible to hnd.
II there is no appetite. suspect some tn-
ternal injury or disease. but do not succumb
to the temptation to give grit, except Is the
mother gives 1t. In natural foods such as
worms and bugs. The tender inner tissues
Of the young bird are not at for such grind
iug material II the bird dies, in any event.
Il win not prove anything except that quite
av1dantly oometh1ng WaS tho matter with u.