BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

Evening Star, Issue 22364, 13 June 1936, Page 6

BIG BROTHER BILL and the BAIRNS

ACT FOR OOF,SELVES ALOIiE Winners of the competitions published on May 30 are as follow: Under 10: Elva Faithful, 21 Valley road, Caversham, S.W.I. (lupin, pansy, petunia, tulip, aster, rose, peony, phlox, dahlia, ixia). Over 10: Stewart Hill-Scully, Moeraki, Hillgrove (Mary’s age is 13 years; mother’s 38 years). Congratulations. THE COMPETITIONS The under-tens have to find hidden rivers, and the over-tens some hidden zoo animals. Send your answers to Big Brother Bill, care ‘ Evening Star ’ ’newspaper, Stuart street, Dunedin. Mark the envelopes “competition.” ! , HIDDEN RIVERS. (Under 10 years; prize, Is.) Hero are the names of hidden rivers. See how many you can find. The river N . . . runs through the land _ Where those ancient, stony Pyramids stand. Thel river T . . M . S runs through a city Whose people aro famous, gay, and witty. The river A . . Z . N is long and wide; The forests on its banks wild people hide. HIDDEN ANIMALS. (Over 10 years; prize, Is Gd.) In the jingle printed below are the umbled names of hidden animals. How many can you guess? Have you seen the gonid at the zoo, The lorap and the African ung? The kepcoac with his brilliant tail, And that cheeky bird tho kawe rail ? Have you had a ride on the pahelten’s back, And given nuts to the konyem pack. And I’m sure you like to see the nilo fed, And to watch the pod, raptors, blue, green, and red.

A PLAGE FOR BIRD LOVERS Badges arc now available for everybody who wishes to have one. The price is Is. Send this in a letter to Big Brother Bill, care 4 Evening Star ’ newspaper, Stuart street, Dunedin. Mark the envelope 44 badge/’ Enclose a stamped addressed envelope in tho letter, and a badge, together with a bird book will be sent to you. wards, you will receive a new bird book each quarter. Sign this pledge and send it to Brother Bill, together with your shilling. 44 I promise to care for wild birds, especially. New Zealand native birds, to feed them in winter, and to protect them at all times. I promise also to protect our native trees and bush, and at no time to assist in their damage or, destruction,- since they arc the natural home of our native birds. Name Full postal address NEW ZEALAND’S TWO CROWS. One usually associates the name “crow” with the bird so well known in Great Britain, but our crow is quite a different bird in many ways. In the first place, its voice is totally different from the raucous one of its European relative. Its voice is clear and resonant and may be heard early in the morning in the forosc gullies and ravines where it goes to rest. The notes sound like “ whio-ku-ku-ku.” Although one ia standing within .a lew yards of the songster it is a difficult matter to locate it, as there seems to be a vontriloquinl effect with the sound. If one keeps quiet it is quite probable that the inquisitive _ bird—which has no doubt been eying the stranger in its domain—will hop out into sight. Crows are very tame in their native haunts where they have not been disturbed with the sound of firearms, but, alas, such areas are only too few now.

Being u poor flier, it does not frequent the tree tops ns do the pigeon and kakn, but it lives in the lower forest scrub. It is very fond of the poropnro berries, and in the early days of Kuropean settlement, before all the bush was destroyed, in many of the now close-settled districts it would generally be found on the edge of any piece of bush around which the poroporo shrub grow, especially after a bush fire had cleaned up the felled portion, as this plant came up profusely at such time. These beautiful birds could be seen hopping and feeding in the shrubs, and at times they would hold a berry in the claw and eat it like their forest mates the kakns. Their flight was very poor, and they relied on the speed and dexterity with which they could hop through the scrub to escape an enemy. They wove adept at concealing themselves also. The main distinction between the North and South Island species is in the colour of their wattles. That of the north is bine, and its southern relative's is orange. In colour both species are alike, dark bluish grey, but there is a slight difference iu the colouring of the tail ; that of the North Island being black, while the South Island bird's is bluish grey with the exception of the tip.

FEED THE BIRDS THIS WINTER. Whiter is a deciding factor in the preservation of birds. Well-fed birds can care for themselves against enemies. Although August is the first month of spring and berries have been plentifully produced .this season, August is the mouth when the food supplies are shortest. More food trees planted, more food given, more shelter provided—means more birds. More birds means more assistance against the huge invisible army of insects. What food shall we give them? Many species of birds take fat freely, and beef suet is especially acceptable. Many like potato or sweetened porridge and milk, and bell birds and tuis are included. Bird-lovers should place food out of the reach of cats. Feed the_ birds, especially in August.

THE POSTIE'S BAG Main North road. Waikouaiti, May 19, 1936. Dear Big Brother Bill,— May I join your happy band of bairns? I am 13 years old. I am in Form I. at school. We have a black-and-white dog, and we call him Mick. My brother takes him when he goes out rabbiting. lie is getting old, and gets very tired after running about all day. Sometimes he does not come home till next day. We have a_ brown ferret which is very tame. AVc have also a little black kitten and a tortoiseshell cat. Trc former one we call Fluff and tlio latter one Topsy. We have a black cow, and wo call her Pet. She gives us quite a lot of milk and cream, and we can make plenty of butter during the winter. 1 shall now close, with kindest regards to you and the bairns.—l remain, yours truly, Joan M'Fie. [Thank you, Joan M'Fie. for your latter. Your name is in the honour square for neat writing. When the bairns read of all the pets at your place they will bo very sure that it is better to live in the country than in the town. To grow old is the misfortune of dogs and humans alike, Joan; but it is much less a misfortune when friends and relatives are kind. So Mick will not feel his old age whilst you are kind to him. Write again soon.]

13 Junction road, Ravenshournc, N.H.2.. May 30, 1936. Dear Big Brother Bill,—This is the first time I have written to you. From our place wo got a good view of the harbour and see a great many of the ships. 1 always listen-in to the children’s hour and read your page on Saturday. I hope to join your Bird Lovers’ Club soon. I have just started to make a tray to feed the birds from. Although we do not see many birds round here, it is worth while feeding what we do see. In the term holidays neither my brothers _ nor 1 went for a holiday, but we enjoyed ourselves by going up to the bush of dry manuka which is over the hill from Bavensbourne. I must close now as it is time for bed.—Yours sincerely, Graeme Forrester.

[Your name is in the Honour Square for an interesting letter, Graeme Forrester. Thank you for your letter. Your news about feeding the birds is splendid. The birds will soon come around when they find your table spread for them, and they will delight you witii their songs. Brother Bill is glad to know that you had a good time m the manuka bush during the term holidays. He will be glad, also, to welcome you to the Bird Club when you are ready. Write again soon.] Balciutba. Dear Big Brother Bill, —May I join your Bird Club? I feed tbo birds. 1 like bird# Please send mo a bird book and a bird badge, and I will send you the money. T am seven years old, and I like school.—Love - from Ito Tsukigawa. [Thank you for your letter, Ito Tsukigawa. You are welcome to the Bird Club, and a badge will be forwarded to you. The badgfig are one shilling each, and you will like it when it conies. Brother Bill would like to send them free of charge, but they cost one shilling to make. Please thank tho captain, your father, for the tin which Brother Bill received safely. Write again soon.]

21 Durham street, Dunedin, Wl., June 2, l!)dO. Dear Big Brother Bill, —I am interested in your Bird Dovers’ Club, and would bo pleased if you would send me a badge. Last winter I put honey out, and we often heard a bellbird singing. We have lovebirds, bantams, and a cat lot pets, and the cat lies with tlie bantams in the sun when wo let the bantams out, and does not touch them in the slightest. I am entering fm this week’s competition, and hopi to have some luck. 1 will close now, with best wishes to yon and the bairns.—J remain, yours sincerely, Colin Freeman. [Thank yon for your letter, Colin Freeman. Your story of the cat and the bantams deserves to bo told among those of strange animal friends,. Sometimes animals will make friends with their natural enemies, which shows, of course, that they can be tamed to do so. The American mountain lion (cods upon the wild deer, but Brother Bill once saw a wonderful moving picture where the mountain lion was friends with the deer. Write again soon,]

159 Forburv road. St, Chur, Dunedin, S2, Juno 1, 1936. Dear Dig Brother Bill, —In this letter I am going to tell you about our cat Mickey. About two weeks after we receive dhim he tried to catch a mouse. Mickey would let it run away and then he would run up and pounce on it. We had to pull all the books out of the bottom of our bookcase so that Mickey could get the mouse. When we are going for his meat all we need to do is to show Mickey the penny, and he will follow us to the gate, jump on the fence, and wait till we come back. Every morning a small cat called Togo comes in and chases Mickey’s tail. He hides among the flowers and springs out at Mickey. Although Mickey is now a big cat, he is frightened of Togo. As it is near bedtime, I must close now. — 1 remain, yours truly, Lois Young.

[Many thanks for your letter, Lois Young. Thank you for your story about Mickey and, Togo. Have you ever noticed that older cats will always give way to younger ones? Brother Bill has two black-and-white cats who are tiro mothers of two tabby kittens. Even though the tabbies are half-grown, the older cats still give way at the feeding plates and milk bowls. Do you think that Mickey gives way because Togo is smaller? He may do. Write again soon.]

C Highcliff road, Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin, E.l, June 2, 1936. Dear Big Brother Bill, —This is the first time I have written to you, and I am nine years old and in Standard IV. at Anderson’s Bay School. Last year I used to put a little tray outside with apple and bread. All day there used to be lots of waxeyes twittering and chirping. lam sending the answer to this week’s competition and hope to be correct. I must close now, with love to all the family.—T. remain, yours sincerely, Lesley Brock. [Thank yon for your letter, Lesley Brock. Congratulations upon your success with the birds. The New Zealand waxeye is an emigrant from Australia, and is, in its native borne, a mocker of other birds’ songs. Brother Bill has listened carefully but has not heard it sing that way in New Zealand. Did you ever hear it sing? 'Write again soon.] DME WIN BY DAY It was a tremendously windy day. Everyone clutched their hats and twirled themselves about to keep their umbrellas from being blown inside out. Billy and Betty enjoyed all the fun and fuss. They watched one old gentleman chase his hat until, just as he. thought it was caught, it slipped under a bus Billy grinned and Betty giggled, for when the hat appeared again it wasn't a hat any more. Tho cyclist had been riding with his head down against the wind, so ho had noticed nothing and just pedalled on Soon the cries of the lady pursuing her hat reached him and he stopped. Politely he returned the hat—somewhat battered, but still a hat. Suddenly as they turned a corner a great gust of wind almost knocked them over. Then a lady’s hat blew off into the muddy road and bowled gaily along like a hoop. When it was tired of bowling along it flew into the back wheel of a bicycle. Betty shrieked, “Oh, my hat!” and started to run. Billy’s cup had been blown over his eyes, and when he had restored it to its proper place the first thing he saw was Betty’s hat some way off rolling over and over along the road. He ran after it, but the hat kept well in front of him. It led him a long chase, and when he caught it he went hack to tho corner where he and Betty had parted. Betty was at the corner, with her back toward him, gazing into a shop window. And she was wearing her ' hat! Billy looked and looked again, then ho slipped up behind her and whispered in her ear: “ Whoso hat are you wearing?” Betty jumped, and seeing the second hat, took off the one she wore and stared at it in amazement. Tho two hats were exactly alike, even to the school hatbands. Billy and Betty were so puzzled by ' o bats that they started violently when a voice said, “ Please, is one of those hats mine?” On turning Betty saw a girl from her own school, a very shy little girl whom she knew by sight, but to whom she had never spoken Betty turned the hat she had been wearing and looked inside. “Of course it’s yours; here’s a label!” she exclaimed. “If you’re Joan ?” She was Joan, so there was no doubt about it. The hats were exchanged, and shy Joan and talkative Betty were soon friends.

THE TRAIN SPEAKS When I was young the limit of my power Was just about (in speed) eight miles an hour. ’Twas thought a daring pace, the old folks then Said: “ Wonderful, indeed, the ways of men To make machines move at such a thrilling rate.” They did not know (nor 1) that at the gate, Wo stood, to time when I would thunder by One mile a minute, and that from the sky, Men sailing in groat ships would speak to me, And 1 give answer back (as easily ns men in converse do face to face). Engine to engine talking through vast space.