Evening star., 1949-09-12
This and That
Bv Charles E. TraceWeH

How to use the vacuum cleaner on the
household cat so that kitty will IKE IL
is explained by A. M. F. OF Arlington
who writes:
recently you spoke Of the presence OF
the heas in houses where there are cats.
IF one has a vacuum with small
round brush attachment for busting furnl-
ture it can be used with great success
on q cat not only for Kidding 1t OF f1eas
hut also for keeping its fur clean and
glossy.
1--WE have had several cats Zone at q
tine) and they were all trained to really
enjoy their vacuum cleaning several times
a week.
"At first they were so afraid Of the
vacuum that they would run out OF the
room when it was in use, but gradually
they became so accustomed to the noise
that they would sleep right through it,
even on the chair on which I was using
the brush.
In the beginning. I would have to
hold the cat and give it a few brief
strokes, but gradually he lost all fear and
would lie, without being held, completely
relaxed, even fitting back his head so I
could reach his throat while I masSaged
him from ear tip to tail tip. The only
sensitive part seemed to be the solar plexis.
Care should be taken that the brush
does not touch the skin as the suction
is too strong"
Birds over Butternut street make an
interesting picture as depicted by A. H.,
who writes:
"At dusk, one evening about two months
ago. first noticed hawk or falcon circling
over the section of Washington near Walter
Reed Hospital.
II observed the bird several evenings
in succession and one evening there were
two Of them.
For long time both birds would ap-
pear every evening about dusk. They ut
tered shrill cries. One evening one Of
the birds bomb -dived over the grounds of
Walter Reed but did not catch anything.
About two weeks ago, the two birds
appeared as usual, but few minutes later
they were Joined by others.
First counted a dozen of them, but
then SO many appeared from SOUTH
eastern direction that it was impossible to
count them.
II am quite sure there must have been
at least 80 Of them.
"They milled around at fairly low al
titude for minute or two. and suddenly
disappeared, but the two kept circling
for long time.
There were quite few swallows flying
about the hawks without pelng moleSCed
by them, and at a lower altitude small
flocks of starlings came toward the trees
on the hospital grounds. They were not
attacked, either.
II wonder where they came from, and
what they are looking for?
These hawks are rather small and they
seem to have light color on the underpart
of the TAIL"
The birds described above scarcely seem
hawks, in the general sense of that word.
Real hawks are solitary hunters, as a rule
Perhaps our correspondent saw some
nighthawks so-called.
These are the famous bull bats, relatives
of the whippoorwill.
The nighthawk is 10 inches long, COM
bination Of black, gray. brown and buff,
with white patch on wings.
The nighthawks go after insects together,
and their skillful evolutions make beauti-
full evening picture.
The plainly marked white wing bars dis
tinguish the nighthawk from the whip
poorwill
The bomb dive" mentioned is favorite
procedure of the nighthawk. It is not for
insects but rather as "show-of" tactics.
reason unknown, although there have been
many attempted explanations.
The fact that these hawks" did not
bother any other and smaller birds more or
less proves that they were not after birds.
Insects were their prey. and these they
gather every evening.