The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-03-28
Perseverance Conquers Difficulties.

A MOST wonderful and ingeni0do bird
is the Turnstone. 1t has earned tia
singular name by the manner in whid
it procures its food, which is by turning
over, with its strong, curved beak, the
tain the insects under them.
A great naturalist. named Thomas
Edward, who is now living, tells very
curious story about these birds.
Mr.. Edward from his boyhood always
delighted in wandering along the sea-
shore, or among rocks and caves, or
anywhere where he could watch close
ly the habits of animals, birds, or in
sects. He met with some strange ad-
ventures in these rambles.
One day as he was walking along the
sea-shore on the Scotch Coast, near
Banff, Mr.. Edward saw two strange
looking little birds standing by large
object, which he afterward found to be
a dead Goldfish. Hiding in a hollow
among the shingle, he watched the little
creatures eagerly, for he knew they
must be Turnstones, and those birds are
seldom seen on that part of the coast
These two little creatures were try
ing hard to turn over Goldfish, but as
it was six times as large as themselves
they found their task rather difficult.
Still they set bravely to work, pushing
away first with their bills and then
with their breasts; but in spite of their
pushing the fish would not turn over,
so they ran round to the other side of
it, and began to scrape away the sand
to undermine him, so that he might
turn over more easily; and then with
fresh energy they set to work, but still
the heavy fish would not move. What
could they dop They did not act as
some of you little boys and girls do
when you have difficult task to accom-
plish-give it up in despair, and pet
tishly declare it is of no use trying.
No, their motto seemed to be,
If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try. try again"
l don't suppose they said so to each
other, but no doubt they meant it; for
again they returned perseveringly to
their work. Presently another Turn
stone came flying toward them from the
rocks, and Mr.. Edward could hear
low. pleasant murmur of delight at this
timely help. So now there were three
to tackle the obstinate fish, and many
hands, or rather beaks, made light
work in removing the sand; then, with
a long push, and a strong push, and a
push all together, at length they raised
the fish some inches above the sand,
but it was too heavy for them, they
could not turn it over down it sank
Foor birds! they were obliged to rest
for while, to recover from their dis
appointment. But still the dogged lit
tie creatures would not be beaten;
thrusting their bills under the fish, they
managed to lift It again. and with an
other united push with their breasts, at
last the fish rolled over and the brave
little birds were victorious. You may
imagine how much they enjoyed the
rich feed of insects which they found
where the fish had lain. Il was so
pleased, and even delighted" adds Mr..
Edward, "with the sagacity and perse-
verance which they had shown, that l
should have considered myself guilty
OF crime had l endeavored to take
away the lives of these interesting
beings at the very moment when they
were exercising the wonderful instincts
implanted in them by their Creator. p
~ Y, Observer.