Evening star., 1949-08-06
This and That
By Charles E. TraceweH
CINCINNATI. Ohio

Lear Slf.
During this time when cantaloupes are
plentiful we serve them often for breakfast
and have the habit of putting the seeds
out on a slight rise in the back garden
THE birds enjoy them, but we noticed
something this week that seemed unusual
to us, and we wonder If it is out OF the
ordinary.
"A beautiful redbird cracked the seeds
took out the inner part, crushed 1t and then
fed it to young sparrow
I'VE always thought birds kept to their
own selves, but there it was, shaking and
shivering like baby birds do, and the red
bird realizing even a sparrow gets hungry.
Can you tell me what has become Of
toads?
I'VE live in a suburban neighborhood and
often saw them hopping around, but Tor
years have not seen one.
I'VE enjoy your column in The Evening
Star so much. and in time like this when
so much turmoil Is abroad it seems Won
derfu that one person can always hnd
something pleasant and instructive to write
about. Thank you for the many times we
have enjoyed your writings.
Sincerely X. w. g."
Cardinals and common sparrows belong
to the same great bird family, the finches.
When a cardinal feeds q baby English
sparrow, 1t is simply doing what comes
naturally.
We have often watched the beautiful red
birds make pals and chums Of sparrows.
They will always be seen side by side at
feeding places.
A baby bird is very much Of baby. no
matter its species, and is so recognized by
other birds. We have watched greedy
startling babies fed by mother English SPAR
rows, and robin mother give few choice
bits to cowbird babies.
For nice clean looking baby bird, there
is none to excel the young of the cowbird.
The creature, of course. has no idea in the
world that its coming into life was purchased
at the cost of five other baby BIRDS in all
probability.
1t is large, pretty, happy. The coat Is
dovelike what might be called mauve. but
with some green in it, but not very much.
The head is large, the neck perfect. and
the whole bird glossy and nice looking IN
every way.
Cowbirds, of course, are walkers.
One baby cowbird walked along the back
porch railing looking for raisins.
We stood at the door and talked to him,
and he was in no sense afraid. but continued
to curve his neck and look In with lntelllgenL
eyes.
When we stepped out, with the familiar
red box, he flew away, but not very far and
was back again shortly after the door closed.
Catbirds like raisins best.
Once when we stepped out with the red
box, catbird flew down to the railing.
Not expecting him to perform, we held
out hand with several raisins in it,
Much to our surprise, he few down in
stantly.
The touch of the two feet on the palm Of
the hand was odd.
The bird barely touched on his two feet
and bill, all at the same moment.
He had his raisin and was away almost
in the second.
Hoptoads seems to have disappeared in
all parts of the country in recent years.
We have never seen one in our suburban
community. In Georgetown there were sew
eral in the front yard. never any in the
back.
Our private opinion is that DOT and other
high powered sprays have ended the useful
ness of this queer creature.
If any one has any other ideas about the
disappearance of our toads we would like
to hear from them. Toad experiences are
always interesting. These "tailless leaping
amphibians Of the genus Bufo" have been
much maligned.