The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-02-04
lsstlnct Of Birds.

IT is interesting to observe the provis-
ion which birds make for their daily
wants anl with what certainty and sue
cess they are provided by instinct.
The woodpecker grasps the trunk OF .
tree with his claws, and, standing upon
his tail, by repeated strokes OF his bill
penetrates the hardest wood an inch or
more until he finds the worm of which
he is in search. In summer common
habit of it is said to be to lie with its
long tongue protruding alongside OF an
antnest, drawing it in whenever covered
with the ants, favorite article OF food.
The nuthatch opens the shells OF nuts
by repeated blows of his sharp, horny
BILL During the winter few shellbarks
or walnuts cracked and placed above the
ground will attract these useful and
pretty little birds.
The butcher bird, which lives on in
sects and smaller birds, is said to secure
the latter by initiating their call and
thus drawing them near him; and has
habit Of impaling upon thorns such in
sects as he does not need at the time.
Perhaps the trick of gathering what he
does not want, and wasting what might
be serviceable to others, is learned
from his intercourse with man.
The whippoorwill will sit upon
fence-rail and give utterance to the most
mournful notes, as if his mother-in-law
and all his other friends were dead and
he was ready to follow them; but death
to the insect that believes in the SINGER
ity of the mourner's wailings, or i'm
AGNES that he has lost his appetite; the
guileless moth IS seized and swallowed
without the bird even suspending his sad
strain.
Crows and sea-gulls are fond of she'll
fish, but, being unable to open them,
carry them to great elevation and let
them fall on the rocks beneath in order
that they can indulge in the delicate
morsel within. In this manner it is said
q philosophers head was broken in
ancient times, being mistaken for
stone. Whether this is true or not l
cannot say, but know that it would be
difficult to fracture some of the heads of
Swans in similar manner at the present
day.
The bald-eagle obtains his subsistence
in q very discreditab.e but ingenious
manner. He calmly sits on the limb Of
some prominent tree, near the margin of
the water, and with his wings raised
few inches from his body eagerly watch
es the movements of the fshing-eagles
busily engaged in searching for their
favorite food. Ere long he sees an
osprey dive heavily into the wide ex-
panse before him, and reappearing with
scream Of triumph, bearing in his
bill a struggling fish. Then the gaze of
the eagle is riveted on his compulsory
purveyor, his wings are extended and he
passes through the air like an arrow in
pursuit of his less powerful relative. By
superior strength and speed he overtakes
the osprey and by repeated attacks makes
it drop its much-prized food. Knowing
that if the fish touched the water it would
swim off and be lost, the bald eagle by
long swoop never fails to catch it on its
downward course. In winter, when the
Chesapeake Bay is full Of ice, and fish
cannot be obtained, the eagle becomes
very bold and fearless and will often
approach close to the sink-boxes of the
gunners Immediately after heavy dis
charge at n nassinp flock of ducks and
carry off in safety killed or wounded
bird, apparently knowing that it can do
SO without injury to itself, as the guns
could not be reloaded before it was far
away with its prize. 1t is unfortunate
that our national bird should indulge in
the degrading habit of living sumptuous
ly on the property of its weaker species;
but it is not exceptional in this respect
as the king of birds only docs what is
often done by the kings of men.-Er-
chdnQe