Evening star., 1949-10-07
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH
ARLINGTON, Va.

ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
This letter has been put off too long.
We too, share your admiration for the lowly
starting. His japanese beetle larvae eating
should compensate for his less desirable
qualities.
This spring we brought down from the
attic two partially feathered starlings. They
thrived greedily on water-soaked bread and
worms brought in by the neighborhood
children.
I'm due time several attempts were made
to encourage the birds flying to no avail.
Perhaps they are slower than other species,
or perhaps they were just plain lazy and
enjoyed being fed by hand and their nice,
safe box. The robins in my next-door
neighbor's window had Matched later than
these and already flown.
+%x
Zone morning my husband settled the
matter by tossing the starlings toward the
woods behind our house. Happy day, they
few away; no more worm hunting, hand
feedings, nor paper changing. That is what
we thought Thirty minutes later they
were at the screen begging to come in. We
finally convinced them that they were not
human beings and belonged out of doors.
However. the 30-minute feelings persisted.
Any time one Of us stepped out in the yard.
q DlrO laQQcO on our neaQ or SlOulQerS
squawking for food.
I'VE thought they would surely take to
the woods that first night. But no, at sun
down there they stood at the back door
begging to come in. On the door being
opened, they waddled in like two old ducks.
For nearly week, when night time came to
the back door they came. to be put to bed
in their basement box Gradually the call
of the wild won over domesticity. We saw
them less and less. Now we cannot dis
tinguish them from any other starlings, but
we like to believe that they are among the
ones who feed in our yard.
"Our 8-year-old says no one will believe
this tale unless they see our color movies of
our baby starlings to prove it,
Sincerely, w. r. H." -
.4
This is a nice tribute to good bird.
Starlings, common sparrows and our own
blue jays are always interesting as under
dogs. ..
There Is an instructive desire of many to
defend these often -abused creatures.
This column has carried letter giving
splendid account Of battle between a
wasp and large spider. The writer said
that one cannot take sides in a thing like
this, and that is true. as a generality; but
certainly one often can and does rush to
the defense of the smaller creature. We
would advise any one who sees an unusual
combat to help give the smaller the oppor-
tunity to get away. This interference is
slight indeed. but it may save life that
might as well be saved.
We recall something that happened at
least 80 years ago. Jack Sprat, the cat, had
mouse freed in small shrub by the front
steps, AS Jack would spring one way the
mouse. very slowly. would run around the
other way. Had this gone on for time,
undoubtedly the cat would have caught the
mouse, but well-dangled piece of string
distracted the cat enough to permit the
mouse still very slowly, to walk clean away.
So, do not be afraid to interfere, in nature.
If you want to, especially II it only denies
some creature meal, or maybe q place
in which to lay its eggs. They can find other
meals and other places.
Interference with tear gas bomb, would
have been far better than allowing the black
panther to tear off the arm of the giant
gorilla, as occurred recently. Both animals
could have been saved. ~.
legislation.
It already had survived the test of thou
sands Of discriminating persons who had
discovered that 1t is bird as well as any,
and remarkably intelligent and interesting
one.
Just as the cats of Illinois were saved from
the fanatics Of that State by the Governor,
so the starlings Of the National Capital were
saved from the clutches Of persons who were
willing to put in much work in killing them
but none in cleaning up after them. It Is
true that these BIRDS in groups, constitute
small problem but the problem is very
slight indeed, and one not deserving OF the
solution by death. One would think that
recent world history would have given every
sensible person enough of such horrible So
lutions, but evidently not. Fair-minded per-
sons of true sensibility must be forever on
suard against both Communists and Fascists