The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-10

question, been aware of our pres
ence for some time, for he has al
ready arisen, placed his powerful
fore-paws upon the lower edge of
his cage and thrust his nose through
the bars. Our quickly elevated
lanterns did not make the slightest
impression upon the l~dIotlcally
staring beast. His mate, lying
rolled up on a ledge of rock, slept
unconcernedly.
The prairie-dog we find in front
of his stone dwelling. For some
time we have heard the leaping Of
this queer little animal from the
Missouri, as, with the greatest &C
tivity, he kept hurrying to and fro.
The hatterhorn( pter0mys rolaas),
from the Steppes of Russia and
Siberia. is also awake, and Jumps,
or rather flies among the wlthered
branches of the little tree which
grows in his cage.
The two beavers, quartcred IN a
roomy tank, or likewise engaged;
the male silently gliding through
the water, the female in the act OF
irving her sharp teeth on the bark
of the trunk of a tree, producing a
peculiar sound, audible Tor a con-
siderable distance. The sudden
illumination of their grotto startles
them and causes a suspension OF
operations for a moment, but only
for a moment, and then each again
returns to his former occupation.
But now to the feathery world.
In the large voleries, most practl-
cally constructed and arranged. sit
the countless representatives of
foreign and domestic birds. Whilst
during the day songs from a hun
dred Threats and confused cries
filled the air-whilst nest-building,
loving fighting and quarrelling and
fighting with a rival, were the oc-
cupations-sweet sleep has now
spread itself over all parties. The
Oldest grudge is forgotten, and
now and then, from different quar-
tiers, short snatchCs of song are
dreamily trilled out. How many
of the charming creatures are now
dreaming of freedom and their
sunny fatherland, and longing to
be once more IN their native woods.
Yonder on a Dough near their
artistically-woven nests, sit nearly
thirty weavers Myphanto,mis tex
tory. With their heads tucked
under their wings, they look like
ripe fruit on q leafless tree.
With that dark heap clustered
together on one of the large limbs
we are all well acquainted. Finches,
titmicc, green-tinches, thistle
finches, lInncts. hedge-sparrows,
robins, nightingales, larks and
wagtails.
Next to them sits Il slumbering
company of thrushes, startllngs.
bull-fnches, bobolinks, cuckoos,
parrots, cockatoos and other repre-
sentatives of the feathery tribe
truly an international dormitorv.
On a rock, near the ever-running
fountain, we find dotterels, lap
wings and plovers. The glossy
ibis Obs falciueH1us) and the red
ibis (ibis ru6ra), despising every
convenience, sleep, like many of
their kindred, on one leg.
Near the waterfall in the Geo
logical Grotto we notice in the
same position our old friend the
stork-he is awake; the light from
our lanterns glitters in a peculiar
manner on his silver beak. This
stalk was brought to the Aquarium
a year ago with the upper half OF
his beak shattered. 1t was skill.
fully replaced with a silver one
since which time he seems to have
enjoyed the most excellent health.
At his feet, close to the edge 81
the water, rests i company Of
ducks, and on the top of the cliff,
that surround the waterfall, storm,
silver and lake gulls are standing.
A most hideous and uncomfort
able sight is that presented by the
pond containing the large sauria. II
its heated water swim giant alliga
tors and crocodiles of every size
the only parts visible being theil
eyes and nostrils. The light pro
duces no effect on them whatever
neither does it on the large famil,
of turtles, of whom many are en-
tirely under the water, while other.
repose on the dry stones.
The Lizards, foreign and domes
tic, we found after a long search
closely hugging the twigs anG
branches of the plants that grow il