Evening star., 1949-09-10
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweU

H.
Mrs. E. D. B. of Decatur street writes:
"One busy morning when we were get
ting ready to go on our vacation, was
driving down Sixteenth street; as I drove
along not far from the entrance to the
parks I saw something fiutter up from
the street to the curb.
cat a distance it looked to be a big
butterfly or small bird. After had driven
by I somehow felt impelled to turn around
and get out of the car to see what 1t was
II had some difficulty in finding it in
the grass.
when did find it saw it was baby
bird that could Ts just little
When 1t saw me it few over the grass
and perched on my foot.
1T cried out and looked up into my face.
Somehow that act seemed to me to be
direct appeal to me for help. looked
around carefully for nest or parent bird.
There was no sign Of either.
Il caught the bird and held it in my
hand. I thought the mother bird would
come near when 1t heard the cry Of distress
at being caught. but no bird appeared.
II debated whether to leave it there.
II put it down in the grass. It f1uttered
toward the street.
II soon saw that its next little fight
would bring it into the path of the cars.
Finally, decided I'd rather catch it again,
take it home and ask my neighbor to care
for it since we were going away.
After I picked it up and got back into
my car, thought to myself, It's asking
2 good deal of q neighbor to care for q
baby bird
IT decided to take 1t over to the bird
house at the Geological Park.
$50 with the little fellow cupped in one
hand drove over to the birdhouse. When
I reached there had difficulty in finding
any of the custodians. Finally, after going
all around inside the birdhouse I saw one
Of the men and called to him.
II told him my story and gave him the
bird. He very readily said he would take
Il and put 1t in the bird hospital and see
that 1t was cared for.
"As I handed it to him he said, It's q
cute little fellow But he didn't know what
kind Of bird 1t was It was greenish on
its back and had yellow wings.
"The man asked for my name and ad-
dress and said it was customary procedure
when any one brought a bird to the bird
house.
1T was with great sense of relief in the
thought that the little bird would be cared
for that drove home to resume my prepara-
tions for our vacation trip"
This correspondent is to be congratulated
on knowing some Of the resources of our
National Capital
Too many persons seemingly fail to realize
that the Government departments and
bureaus are to help the people. and that few
direct appeals to the busy men and women
who work in them 60 unheeded.
Not every baby bird that falls to the
ground can or should be taken to the Zoo,
of course; but the helpful people there are
really fond Of birds and animals, and will
extend all the help possible in emergencies.
Mocker as mouser:
I'm case any one is looking for q good
rnouser, I'd like to recommend the mocking-
bird.
"A small mouse ran across our patio last
evening. attracted, suppose, by the peanuts
I had tossed there for the birds.
Later he scurried off into some low
bushes and scared the mocker and the cat
bird feeding In the grass nearby. Presently
he returned to the patio.
"At that point a mockingbird perched on
the rim Of the bird bath about IS feet away
spotted him. The bird swooped down like
a dive bomber headed straight for the
mouse.
"He landed with wings failing, giving
every indication that he was ready to fight,
but the mouse had seen him coming and
had disappeared like flash.
1.-THE mockingbird stayed for few Sec
onds, still hoping the mouse would come
out and fight, but presently he flew of, feel
ing, I'm sure, very pleased with himself.
I'VE wonder what the bird would have
done with the mouse II he had caught It,"
This letter Is from D. A. Of Fifty-second
strsst.