Evening star., 1949-05-02
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. Trdceirell

IreeQy DlrQS OlCen get INTO trouble through
trying to swallow seeds too large for them.
Here is typical instance, sent by DEC.
Of this city and Albuquerque. New Mexico.
II must tell you," he writes, about my
experience in rescuing robin from a tree.
heard this bird huttering over my head and
1t was robin hanging by some thread
which was wound about Its feet and then
around some twigs.
lone foot was wound around and around
with thread. Toward noon he showed some
signs of life and tried to feed him warm
milk. even dug up worm but he wouldn't
touch it.
He kept opening his bill wide and dis
covered he'd thrown up some large seeds. I
never knew birds did that. but these seeds
(six Of them) came out Of his bill.
I'm enclosing q couple Of the seeds. I re-
call seeing them frequently in the bird bath
and wondered how they got there"
Birds often eat the wrong things. just as
humans do.
Some years ago reader wrote in of a
sparrow with q too large insect stuck In its
craw.
There can be no doubt that many birds
die of such mishandling Of foods.
It it always q good thing to look down
birds bill. If it will not eat; sometimes there
down. and yet won't come up.
The old standard remedy. turning the crea-
ture upside down and spanking 1t gently is
good here.
little girl with bit of juniper bush in
her throat was so treated and disgorged the
bit of bush after few whacks.
Bethesda resident wants the specifica-
tions for bluebird house.
Use soft wood, as thick as possible, and be
sure the roof is thick enough.
Proportions are as follows: Floor, oy
inches depth. 8 inches; diameter OF en-
trance, Ia inches; height Of hole above moor.
6 inches height Of house above ground.
to 10 feet.
Low placement is best. although not many
persons like the idea They are too afraid
of cats. Cats and birds have been meeting
each other for centuries. If cats did one
thousandth the damage some persons claim
they do there would be no birds.
Recent drop In bird population is better
laid to DDT and other garden mixtures
used too freely
w. M. M. Of Eighteenth street sends the
following odd happening from Elmira. NJ T..
about the doings OF squirrel:
THE racket that ensued when Mrs. John
3. OF Larchmont road turned on her car
heater was like washing machipe churn-
ing up bushel Of baby rattles.
.At the garage, the mechanic quickly
found lit good reasons for the noise.
"One hundred seventeen hickory nuts!
Here's what happened The nuts were In
q basket high on o shelf in the garage. An
industrious squirrel went TO lot OF trouble
to find new place to hide them.
He'd climb up under the motor to the
radiator There. he'd enter an intake tube
and travel its 3-foot length to the Joint
where the tube connects near the dash with
the heater fan.
Each trip meant one nut dropped into
the fan housing for safe keeping.
1T took lit trips before the squirrelly.
nutty enterprise came to light"
"P street
Dear Sir:
"On Easter Sunday we saw on ledge at
Fifteenth street, dead pigeon being watched
over by live one Upon our approach. the
pigeon iew away but watched from nearby
ledge.
"Then losing his fear OF us. he new back
to keep his vigil. We lured him away from
his dead companion several times but he
always returned A passerby said he had
seen pigeons stay by q dead mate. Is 1t
usual?
Il do not know if the live pigeon was made
or female neither do know about the dead
one. but there was certainly touching devo-
tion manifested. Do pigeons form special
attachments?
Sincerely yours, 3. H.
"Thirty-eighth street.
Dear Sir:
Concerning the mysterious animal de-
scribed by H. l. Y. In your column recently.
Avn ou;ts certain that IL Was n small Arctic