Evening star., 1949-03-16
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,Dell
ARLINGTON, Va.

1oN, va.
Dear Sir:
You have stressed the help the bluejays
give other birds in calling their attention
to marauding animals. hawks, etc.
If any one wants q real bird policeman,
call on a guinea.
when his keen eyes sight any large bird
weasel or skunk, he flies to the top of the
gate and sends forth such a torrent of de-
flance that it can be heard for mile.
Then all the small birds scoot for cover.
mo bird that wears feathers can equal
him. He seems absolutely without fear. for
he will tackle any kind Of dog. big or little.
The guinea hen also helps
Very truly, E. L. w."
The common guinea, Numida meleagris,
is just as noisy as our correspondent asserts.
It has little place, therefore, in a closely
built-up community. and seldom is seen-or
heard-in the city or near-in suburbs
Even that fine little fowl, the bantam, is
sure to arouse some light sleeper's ire.
The guinea lays its eggs on the ground,
and feeds there, but roosts in trees. That
is where 1t Is often picked OF by the larger
owls
Thousands of city people have never seen
q guinea hen.
Some of them have never seen guinea pigs,
either. although they have read about them.
This domesticated form of the cavy is gentle
and clean, and makes a good pet.
There is another guinea product no one
would ever want to see.
It is the guinea worm, a nematode in the
form Of a horsehair, which gets into the
muscles of the feet and legs and causes q
big tun1or.
The only way to get rid of the worm is
to wind 1t out carefully on roll Of paper,
taking care not to break it. for if this hap
pens it will grow again.
This worm lives in the famous Guinea re-
gion the west coast of Equatorial Africa. It
is just one Of the many dangers of the
Tropics.
People who live in the cold regions and
who at times complain bitterly about storms,
snow and ice. ought to keep the guinea worm
in mind when they feel like complaining.
The fecundity of the guinea pig has long
been q source Of wonder. They begin to
breed at the age of 6 months, and have lit
tiers of every weeks.
One of Americas most perennially popu-
lar short stories, Pigs Is Pigs" has taken
this natural wonder for its basis.
Aside from its soft coat and gentle man
ners, the guinea pig is not as likable an
animal as the rabbit.
The variety of rabbits on display at pet
stores always strikes one as amazing.
If any one wants an odd form of pet, the
rabbit is still about the BEST
The golden hamster is newer but 1t Is not
as much sheer fun for children.
The care of a rabbit family in time be-
comes rather heavy. The pens are likely to
become smelly, and again some neighbor
may complain.
The creatures demand a great deal of
food, and will be caught and killed by cats
unless precautions are taken against this.
Yet the two can be taught to live together
amicably We have never forgotten the
sight we saw once on Thirteenth street as
we went along in a car.
There was a big black cat and q snow
white rabbit playing together in a yard be-
hind an old-fashioned iron fence.
The two against the green grass made
an almost perfect picture.
Domestic rabbits come in many colors,
one of the best resembling that of typical
yellow cat.
The rabbit has such a place in folklore
that he should be seen more in actuality.
He deserves more respect than he has won
for himself in everyday life.
The wild rabbits Of the suburbs are one
of the most charming notes struck by the
near-city wild life in the heart Of every
former city dweller who has moved out of
town.