The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-15
SEEKING STRANGE BIRDS.
THE ADVENTURES or 4 NITJ,RALJSrI
THE LESSER ANTILLES.
sonasters that the Natives Believed were
Spirits-five MOnths With "a Nearly EHtinct
HeoIsle-rha MxAeIIema "AannttsrN."

At o'rlpk Oh Wednesday morning tho
brig City Of Moule was hauled into the Baltic
docks in Brooklyn. She had made u somewhat
tempestuous passage from Guadaloupe. She
carried heavy cargo. and one passenger. The
cargo was sugar. The passenger was Mr..
Frederick ODER naturalist. who for the pasttwo
years has been engaged In investigating. under
the auspices Of the Smithsonian Institute the
ornithology and archaeology OF tho Lesser
Antilles.
II was not an easy or agreeable thing to climb
on board the brig. for she lay outside another
vessel; but reporter for THE Sun finally ac-
complished the task, and entering the after cabin
"A neat but not spacious northumberland Mr..
Obcr busily cording boxes. They numbered
Ave or six. and were filled with tho skins Of
birds. carefully preserved. In one corner
was cage in which there were three or four
birds not often seen In bird fancicr's stock.
They were doves OF remarkable kind secured
by Mr. ODER on his travels. There was among
them a small brown bird that the reporter
thought he recognized. II asserted It's rights
30 boldly aud made itself 50 thoroughly at home
that Its identity with the common English spar
row was unmistakable. Surprised at seeing II
In such good company. the reporter asked for
an explanation. and the mate gave It.
We were coming up from Gaudaloupe." he
said and. when about 500 miles from any
land. two sparrows few on board. They had
been blown on shore. and were so tired that
they didn't attempt to fly away. but allowed us
to catch them. Mr.. ODER put them into the cage
with his doves. but one OF them was worn
out by his long fly that he couldn't eat anything.
and died in few hours. That one. however"
pointing to the little bird In the cage. Is n
hardy little fellow. He ate all that was given 10
him. and soon recovered. He Is kind OF
curiosity. you see. on account OF being picked
up 30 far out ut sea. and we intend TO keep him."
This intention was not destined to be real
lied. A few minutes afterward slight rustlinR
was heard in the cage. and before anything
sparrow was flying about the little cabin. II
bad escaped through division In the wires,
aiighted for an instant on box o. preserved
fitted away again. All the doors and apertures
were hastily closed. except one port that was
overlooked. Through that port the sparrow
passed. and for a few seconds 4 could be seen
flying down the river apparently bent on re-
Mr.. 0bcr was not much disturbed by this I'M
gracious deserton. but the mate didn't like II.
aud said so.
resting on another. the naturalist related the
story OF his adventures In the Lesser Antilles.
He has secured eighteen birds OF n species
hitherto unknown. except in very limited de-
gree. 10 the natives OF the islands on which he
shot them. He sailed from New York in the
latter part OF December. 1876. In the schooner
Francis A. Magee. intending 10 go to Mar
Unique but the schooner struck upon Ber-
muda Reef. and he was detained month in
Bermuda. The real work OF the expedition was
begun in Dominica. whore he spent 1--WE months.
living the greater part OF that time among the
Carbs. He says there are only about twenty
families Of this singular people yet living on
! the island, and they are rapidly dying out. The
est members OF the rnce knowing anything
about IT, The others speak an adulterated
While in Dominion. Mr.. Ober heard OF n bird
which the natives called the soleil coucher."
or sunset bird" lie could find nobody who
bsTs @ at
| note was heard In the mountains. The sound
was q soft. flute, like nature. and plainly sy;
| coucher." A vast amount OF superstition Is at
tached to this bird. Among other things. Mr..
| Ober was assured that II existed only in song.
aud had no visible body; that IL was, probably,
| the voice OF departed spirit Mr.. Ober started
eaTf for tS %o weeks s Without susess He
| heard the note. however. and II was always his
signal 20 prepare mis- camp Tor the night. Tor IN
those attitudes there is little or no twilight.
darkness succeeding sunset almost immedi-
atey
manpuvrinR managed TO shoot specimen. II
belongs 10 the same family as the king bird. but
Is 81 an entirely different species, II mas u
yellow. On its head is crest which ii can
erect or lay fiat at pleasure. Mr. ODER aiterward
shot four other specimens, and sent them. with
most Of his collections. 10 Prof. Lawrence and
| Prof. Baird OF the Smithsonian Institute 10 be
| named. Soon aftpTWard he received tho inior-
nation that the Institute had named the species
after iis discolerer. calling It the Myiarchus
Oheri."
| birds In Dominica. all rare. but not unknown 10
| naturalists, He took many photographs OF
C"ri6s and Carib huts. rnde s1rnStHHres ouiit OF
| pictures Of the superb natural scenery. heautl-
| ful streams and waterfalls. On March u.s. 1877
boiling lake, never before seen in quiesre
state. " In Dominica" he said, there, are an
immense number OF boiling springs. and when
camping out we used TO put eggs into bag
| and lower them by string into the water; In
few minutes they were completely boiled"
| The Carib men. tho naturalist says are a
strong. hardy race. and they used to carry his
| heavy boxes on their heads for hours with ap-
parent ease The women are are not par
reaches nearly rs low as the knees. Their love
| for iewelry lends them. when they can procure
| it. To embellish themselves lavishly.
| From Dominica Mr. Ober went to Antigua.
where he shot specimen OF an owl not nth ?.
| about as large as an ordinary screech owl;
Later IN the year he returned 70 Dominica. and
went thence 10 St. Vincent. whore he secured
seven specimens OF entirely new birds. One Of
| these tho natives called the "Souifriere Bird.
T6 Rs nsa 1SS
| He could find nobody who had seen II. and IL
was known only by its voice, The natives as
| was no use In his going after IT, Certainly
| naturhlsts and others had searched for thu
birds Tor MY years. but no specimens had ever
oAccompanicd, By an old colorod man. Mr.
| ODER. despite OF all dscouRraRements. ascend
crater OF the volcano Of st. Vincent, which,
sixty yeaTs ago. was IL ERUPTION and covered
drifted more than a hundred and fiity miles 10
windward at that time. and descended upon
another island, a phenomenon which Is ac-
counted for by the theory that they rose above
the current OF wind close to the earth. and
| getting into higher current were carried In