Evening star., 1950-01-18
This and That
Bv Charles E. TraceweII

again I note in your column" writes L.
A. c. Of Thirteenth street. that the redbird
is q cousin of the sparrow. ze A.
"They must be very distant cousins.
wish you would elaborate"
Well here goes:
The largest family of birds is that of the
flnches. rs.
All of these birds, representing 1900 spe-
cies, scattered all over the world. belong to
the larger division of singing birds.
All OF these birds wherever you find them
(and you might find them almost anywhere
except Australia), have certain peculiarities,
such as one-shaped bills, IL feathers In the
TAIL etc.
All Of them are seed eaters and most of
them also eat insects, especially at nesting
time.
Finches include grosbeaks, purple finches
English sparrows, all the 19 sparrows that
come to.the District of Columbia and vicin-
ity, the juncos. the wonderful towhee the
indigo bunting. and the cardinal, among
many others.
They may not all look alike, but they all
belong to the same great bird group.
Any one would know this merely by watch
ing cardinals and sparrows mix amicably at
the bird feeding station.
There is, OF course, some dispute as to
what. exactly. the common or house sparrow,
Is; some experts like to say 1t Is weaver
bird" but most seem content to lump it of
with the other sparrows and call 1t day.
Certainly most persons interested in birds
for their beauty will see q great similarity
between the common sparrows and such
native sparrows as the song. white throated
and white-crowned sparrows.
After ALL it makes little particular differ
ence to most Of us which bird family given
species falls into or out Of; we like to watch
them, to compare them, to see the difference
in their life habits. to enjoy their songs, to
take part bit in their pleasures and try to
help them in their disasters.
In this way we come to know the birds as
friends, guests in our own gardens, not
strange creatures to chase after only on
Sundays. Birds to homefolks mean guests,
and as such are honored for the companion
ship and pleasure they bring US.
Among these bird guests, none ranks
higher with most persons than the cardinal,
or redbird.
Forget his family connections, his poor
relations and concentrate on him, and you
will come up with something mighty nice in
feathers.
For all his glory in red. the male cardinal
is strong one.
Any person who has tried to help one in
of those muscles.
To keep hold of even a wounded one
means a struggle.
Sometimes it is impossible to hold onto an
injured redbird.
In such a case 1t is best to let 60, before
the bird hurts himself again.
One accustomed to the milder actions of
most other species Of the same size will be
surprised at the sheer strength the cardinal
can show.
It will convince him that this one is, in
deed, true wild bird.
He is so wild that the best thing to do with
him is to let him alone.
Something of this wildness is seen in his
very demeanor.
He is naughty one, and no mistake.
He will brook no interference with his
plans. even from his lady love, except in
springtime, when he offers her fresh SUM-
flower seed in the best tradition of young
man with box of candy
The female cardinal is beauty in her own
right Mostly she is of milder temper than
her mate, but now and then will chase other
birds from her nest like feathered tornado.
One Of the most beautiful bird sights we
remember was that of a mother cardinal
with bead of ice on the top of her head.
This natural diadem became her remark
ably, setting of the pleasant features and
real beauty Of this. one Of the best Of birds.