The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-10-11
Young Folks.
Australian Rirds and Snakes.


not succeed In getting piefull. lhave
an idea that the gay.colored dress OF q
Young lady who accompanied us fright
oned the birds away. There wore plen-
ty of birds about, but very few OF the
sort we wanted-a bird as large as
pigeon, plump and tender to eat, inc
doctor drove us In and out among the
trees, and had once nearly turned US all
perforce out of the buggy, having got
his wheels locked in the stump OF a
tree.
The spockled honeysuckers, yellow
and black, chirped and gabbled up
among the trees. The leather-heads,
with their bare necks and ruftle fwhite
feathers, almost like SO many vultures
in miniature, gave out their loud and
sudden croak, then lazily tapped their
wings and flew away to the next tree.
Suddenly there was heard the single cry
of the bell bird, just like tho ringing OF
a glass bell, while far off in the bush
YOU could hear the note of the Australi-
an magpie or piping crow, not unlike
that of a silver flute, clear, soft, and
musical. The piping crow is, indeed,
a clever bird, initiating with wonder
cul accuracy the cries Of other birds,
and when tanned Is exceedingly anus
ing, readily learning to whsle tunes,
which it does extremely well.
Another day went out shooting with
the Presbyterian minister, an enthusi-
aslic taxidermist, now occupied in max
ing very nice collection of Australian
birds. We had gay time of it In the
bush that day. There were plenty OF
gray and black.birds, or "miners" as
they are called here, chattering away
in the trees in groups of four or five.
They are species of grakle, and are
lively and Intelligent birds, some OF
them possessing power of initiating
human speech equal to any Of the par
rot tribe. They are very peculiar look
ing, gray in tho body, with black
dab on the head, and large bright
yellow waffle just behind the eye. We
pass the "miuers" unmolested, for the
minister tell me they are "no good" if
you want eating, while as specimens
they are too common.
Then there are the tiny gray wrens
sitting about in scores-so small that
an English wren looks monstrous be-
side them. Across the sunlight, and
away over hollow, tholo dies flock
of green and yellow parroquets, scream
ing as they fly. The brilliant colors of
their wings flash and glitter as they
come from under the shadow of the
trees. Now we stalk solitary piping
scrow from tree to tree; but no sooner
do you get near enough to take pot
shot at him, than he pipes his note and
is off. The only way of getting at him
is to proceed cautiously from bush to
bush but even then, so shy Il
bird is he that it is very difficult TO bag
him.
There is flock of great white sui.
phur-crested cockatoos clustered up in a
high tree. Can we get shot? They
seem to anticipate our design, for on
the moment they rise and wheel over.
head with elevated. .crests, ,uttering their
shrill, hoarse cries. These are the fel.
lows that occasion our farmers so
much troubled by eating the freshly
sown grain.
Then look on that branch are twen-
ty or thirty lovely little swift parro.
aueets, with green and dark blue wings
dipped with yellow. They are climbing
in and out of the scant LEAKAGE, under.
and over the limbs of the tree, hanging
on by their claws, and they only rise if
they see us near enough to take shot
at them, when they take to wing
screaming. and fly away in flock.
There are sometimes snakes met with
in the bush, though I saw but few of
them, and these are always ready to
get out of your way. The largest fel.
low 1 saw was drawn out from under
the flooring of weather.b boarded hut
on the hillside above Majorca. l was
coming down early one morning from
the school house, when l stopped at the
hut to speak with the occupant. 1t is a
very tidy little place, divided into two
rooms-parlor and bedroom. The par
lor was pasted all over with cheap
prints, reminding me of home, mostly
taken from Punch and the Illustrated
London NeaCs. Photographs of old
friends were also hung over the MANTLE
shelf. The floor was neat and clean
the little pot was simmering over the
little fire, and all was getting ready for
breakfast. a very pleasant picture of
thriving emigrant's home it made.
AS was standing outside, about to
take my leave. casting my eyes on the
ground, saw beneath the bench close
to the door long, brownish. gray thing
lying quite still. at once saw that it
was a snake, and snatched up a billet
of wood to make blow at him burt
my friend, who had more experience in
such matters, held me back. "Just
wait moment" says he, "and let me
get hold of him" Quick as thought,
he stopped down, seized firm hold of
the snake by the tail, and whiring him
rapidly round his head three or four
times, he dashed him against the boards
of the hut and let him drop, crushingd
the reptiles head with his boot. heel.
The snake was four feet six inches in
length, and said to be of a very poison
ious sort.
Snakes are much moro common in
the less cleared parts Of the colony, and
fatal snake bites are not infrequent
The most successful method of treat.
ment is that invented by DIR. Halford,
OF Melbourne, which consists in inject
lug a solution of ammonia into vein
dissected out and opened for the pur-
pose. This is said at once and almost
to destroy the effects of the
poison. Since my return home / OBJ.
serve that DIR. Halford has been public
rewarded for his discovery Boys
1rdrels ArOund the World.
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