The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-03-09
A Funny Bird.

A most wonderful and ingenious
bird is the Turnstone. 1t has earned
this singular name by the manner in
which it procures its food, which ID
by turning over, with its strong and
curved beak, the stones on the sea-
shore, in order to obtain the insects
under them.
A great naturalist, named Thomas
Edward, who is now living, tells a
very curious story about these little
birds.
MIR. Edward, from his boyhood, al
ways delighted in wandering along
the seashore, or among rocks and
caves, or anywhere that he could
watch closely the habits of animals,
birds ar insects. He met with some
very strange adventures in these
rambles.
One day us he was walking along
the seashore on the Scotch coast, he
saw two strange looking little birds
standing by "a large object, which he
aiterward found to be dead Goldfish.
Hiding in "a hollow, 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
trying hard TO turn over the goldfish,
but as it was six times as large as
themselves, they found their task
rather difficult. Still they set to
work brarely, pushing away first
with their bills and then with their
breasts; but, i'll spite of their pusn-
ing, the fish would not turn over; So
they ran round to the other side OF
1T, and began to scrape away the
sand to undermine him, So that be
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 do?
They did not act as some of you lit
tie boys and girls do when you have
a difficult task to accompiish-eive
it mp in dispair, and pettishly declare
1t is of no use tryiDg. No, their
motto seemed to be,
..If at first you don't succeed.
Try, try, try again"
| don't suppose they said so to
each other, but no doubt they meant
it; for again they returned perseyer-
ingly to their work. Presently an
other little TurnstOne came flying
toward them from the rocks, and
Mr.. Edward could hear low pleas
ant murnler of delight at this Timely
help. SO now there were three to
tackle the obstinate fish, and many
hands, on rather beaks, made light
work in removing the sand; then
with long push, and srong push,
and push all together, ut 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 again.
Poor birds they were obliged to
rest for while to recover from their
disappointment. But still the dog
ged little creatures would not be
beaten. Thrusting their bills under
the fish, they managed To lift it again,
aud with another 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
hsh had lain. II was SO pleased
and even delighted" adds Mr.. Ed
ward, with the sagacity and perse-
verance which they had shown, that
l should have considered myself as
guilty OF a crime had l endeavored
to take away the lives of these in
teresting little beings at the very
moment when they were exercising
the wonderful instincts implanted in
them by their CREATOR New York
Observer.