Evening star., 1949-09-19
This and That
By Charles E. TraceveH

Setting forth his own ideas about various
matters, A. c. w. of Evarts street N,E. writes:
"Odd indeed are some of the letters
correspondence like yours brings in
II am thinking now of three of them. but
mostly Of the toad situation.
In place where every one depends on
selling the growing things and needs pro-
lection from insects, most every one knows
that toads either are or amt in exact
relation to suitable water to lay eggs and
hatch pollywogs. Pollywogs equal toads, tad
poles equal frogs.
"They know that If fairly clean rain
water ponds or very slow streams are not
near, no toads.
"In Rock Greek and most other waters
hereabout, the still places are filthy and the
swift spots are not used by the toads.
Some of them are great travellers, going
as far as Is miles, and now and then pair
just happen to get together near suitable
water and pocket or community of toads
results, as young M. M. has found.
"A stray few toads are eaten by poultry,
rodents, wading birds and others, and pos
sibly snakes, and quite a few succumb to
autos. but nine -tenths of their absence is due
to the water problem.
X
Another new one on me is that cottontail
rabbits will not eat carrots torched by
humans.
"Why, as lad in Oklahoma, I knew them
numerous enough to be caught for the market
and regularly baited with carrots, turnips.
corn, etc., and had several little fellows at
different times which would perch on one of
my hands and eat from the other.
ALSO, how did a person see birds eating
termites on lawns?
did she put them there?
"Termites exist only in colonies in dark
places where there is rotting vegetation, as
old wooden walls, etc.
MIXED focks of starlings ,Hparrows pigeons
light on lawns and eat quantities of crabgrass
seed and sprouts and such few insects as
happen to be there.
ITO us, the seeds are only hard black
specks and the sprouts are very small but
probably look like nuts and celery to the
birds.
"All three as well as the grass are migrants
from Europe and naturally belong to gether.
4 Il
'Those interested in big birds can see the
following from Chain Bridge to Seneca:
"Ten to 100 crows, one to three bald eagles
and up to SO buzzards any time; an occa-
sional fishing eagle, marsh hawk or goshawk:
at or just before daylight one or more horned
owls flying, and sometimes in daylight barn
tree trunk; scattering few of the year.
around mallards, teal and black ducks: in
summer, daily, least bitterns. the bitterns,
white herons, very occasional blue heron,
and. in the migratory months, most Of the
common waterfowl at the dams. the feeder,
waterworks and Seneca dams"
****
SECOND STREET.
Dear Sir:
''The two baby squirrels that were pictured
in The Star as of August 20 were given to me
to care for. They are so tiny I need help
badly-how to give them the best possible
care.
They fell from tree in the terrible wind
and were found by two kind boys who attend
my school.
"The two little orphans are being fed 2
parts whole milk, part prune juice, part
water, pinch calcium gluconate and / drop
viosterol. This in doll baby's bottle. Luke
warm every 2 hours. They are in small
corrugated carton, with holes punched in the
top for air. The carton is filled with old
soft wool.
"At feeding time. pick one up and hold
it firmly in my left hand, covered with q
small piece of wool and feed the formula
They seem to like it and snuggle close within
my hand. They have no fur and their eyes
are shut. After feeding, they are returned
to the box of wool.
''Is there anything more can do?
Sincerely yours, H. F. B."
This seems to be about all any one can do.
The next foods are grapes, oatmeal and
acorns, graduating thereafter to nuts and
sunhower seeds.
Use Of the squirrel teeth is necessary to
prevent the teeth from growing so long the
animal cannot use them. Nuts. to the squirrel.
are not only necessary foods, but also dental
equipment. nature> own brand.