Evening star., 1949-06-04
This and That
By Charles T. Trace1Dell

BY Charles Z. Trace1DeH
Oldest birdhouse in the Metropolitan
Area?
G. T M Of Arlington thinks So and prob
ably is right.
Here is the story:
"Thirty-two years old. and still In use!
ut Is hardly priced by me for it belonged
to my only son who has since passed away.
When he was Q boy. truck ran over a
mother cat leaving four kittens three days
old.
He took two Of them to raise and man
took the other two. ss~.ee.
"Acarperter made a beautiful little house
for them. windows and loft. When the
house.
1T has had all kinds or occupants One
year bees made honey In 1t. One fall I
hired q man to paint and repair 1t. He was
at the top of a tall ladder. and the minute
he touched it. a large number Of flying
squirrels began flying out in his face and
lighting around In the trees. He was so
surprised he nearly fell off the ladder. We
gave up the job.
THE lightning struck the tree, breaking
out the top. and a colony of squirrels from
the other trees moved in and policed the
house They use the loft to lie in.
Last year two pairs of flickers built nests
downstairs. The squirrels would come down
the tree, and hang with their heads down
and Jump on the house until they frightened
the poor birds away.
This spring a pair of starlings defied
them and built in the loft, The squirrels
would slip down and cautiously peep In.
The birds would pick at them but after 10
days they gave up the fight and few of,
and brought two other starlings.
'They examined the house.
'They sat around on the limbs and held q
long consultation.
Then the four suddenly few away and
have not returned.
This is the second time have been
fortunate enough to observe the intelligence
II cannot understand why people are so
mean to them"
Here Is some one else who likes starlings.
X. M. Of Silver Spring. Md, writes:
u notice every one seems to harp on the
fact that the only thing the poor old starting
is fit for is killing japanese beetles.
II wish to say that the starting Is the
worst enemy of vicious termites.
whole nocks Of starlings can be seen
in the spring and fall digging their sharp
beaks into the ground. both In the city and
suburbs and country. after the termite eggs.
"Termites breed in the ground. After
Matching, they come out and make for woods,
fences. homes, trees.
Having had experience with them In my
own house. found the exterminator had to
poison the ground all around the house to
kill the young.
eff starlings are exterminated here people
can then expect their homes. doors. windows.
and even inside the houses to be eaten into
holes.
What is more important, having shrub
berry eaten away, or the woodwork of ones
house? There is nothing that will KIN the
termite. No traps catch them. They are
the most intelligent of all insects and very
beautiful when seen flying, their wings being
like silver.
when once the ground is poisoned around
the house. 1t kills OF all the shrubbery, and
no flowers win ever grow there.
"The starting is the only bird that II 20
busy digging In the ground, with the excep-
ton Of the robins who dig only for worms.
The robins around my place love bread
better than worms"
Tbs tragedy Of the starlings. II they are
wiped out In this country. win be added TO
the determination Of the billions of passenger
pigeons
Revenge is quick. in nature. All legislators
who vote for starting killing will be dead.
themselves, In 10 to rs years. In most cases.
This Is natures solemn warning to her
living children: Let me do the killing.
have 1t all worked out. In my way. Your
ways are not my Ways. Intelligent but hard
hearted children-T have tried to warn you
with tornadoes, epidemics. disasters Of III
kinds. You have enough 10 do. to dght
disaster and evil Why fight each other.
and PASS laws to exterminate my harmelss
birds? But 1t makes no difference, In ths
long run. You. too. win 90 10 the fate p
which you hsvs sondsmnsd than"