Evening star., 1949-11-25
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH
RICHMOND, VA.

Dear Sir:
IT am having trouble identifying bird
that listen to every day. He seems to be
in tree right near my window. but have
never seen him. He whistles just like q
human being.
Some one suggested 1t might bs a starting
but don't think 50.
"Win you recommend good bird book?
I'd want one in colors and one that gave
detailed information about every type bird.
This place is haven for them.
"One more question. This summer was
looking for grasshoppers to fish with and
I noticed the wooden clatter Of their wings.
Just what it is that causes this sound?
when I was living in Washington I
read your column regularly and enjoyed the
unique way in which you handle your
subjects. Sincerely yours, r. A. c.
The whistling bird Is the titmouse.
He often whistles as If calling dog.
He is small, but possesses wonderful
voice. as almost all birds do.
Starlings whistle more in the spring than
at this time of year. but warmer days cause
them to whistle at any season.
AS for the recommendation OF bird
book, this is something we shrink FROM be-
comes in asking why we did not recommend
some other book or books.
Every one, you see, has his or her favorites.
There is no really best, only fashions In
this as in other things. With some per-
sons, the very latest book is always best.
Therefore we would suggest that visit
to good bookstore, or to the public library,
is the best way to find out ones own prefer
ence. There are small books large books.
old and new books, and out OF the whole
list one can find what Is desired. Perhaps
no one book is best. Every one interested
should have at least three books. preferably
small one. a large one, and then the
"very latest" or some old standard work.
Any good bookstore clerk or library attend
ant can help In the choice.
The wings Of grasshoppers clack because
they are made of chitin, natures own orig
inal plastic When struck together, they
make sharp click. or even wooden sound,
since chitin Is the outer covering, an insect
speciality that is one Of the reasons for their
ability to Withstand the slings and arrows
Of outrageous fortune. as visited by mankind
and the rest of living and inanimate -crea-
ton against the tribes of insects.
Here's lady who says: please do not
use my name should you print this, am
sure some of my neighbors think am bird
crazy"
From her letter. the reader may think this
kind person much more crazy about rabbits.
as witness:
IT was most interested in the letter about
the wild rabbit.
"I, too had cottontail, but had much
more fun with wild one saw on Friday
just before Easter In the back garden. After
walking by him twice without him running
away I decided he must be Ill. He was
either Ill or hungry. es
when I brought, him in my husband
told me it is absolutely impossible to make
a wild rabbit live as they will not eat out
of human hands.
well, fed him with medicine dropper
warm milk every two or three hours, even
getting up in the night.
II nestled him in big white wool sock
so would have some way to hold him
to force-feed him. When he had enough
he would look at me in disgust, put his
head down and burrow down Ii the sock.
It took days to get him to eat anything
but milk but he finally came to eat lots
of green grass and especially dandelions.
When he discovered how good graham
crackers were he made the crumbs fly.
IT had him In the house for six weeks,
kept him in a bird cage the last three
weeks, as he got SO big he could Jump
out Of the waste basket was using. He
was so irked with the cage he would bite
the wires and look out at the window and
finally got to nipping me when would pick
him up. Finally had to put him back Ia
the garden but put graham crackers out
for him every evening. went on vacation
in June and have not seen him since but
my neighbors tell me he ate their flowers
In their back yards"