The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-03-17
A Pigeon with a Cocks Comb.

/ oOCh III ln6 bITGblS u dlBO uhh
some pigeon with scarlet-tipped wings, |
purple tail-feathers, and a small, we'll
shaped comb, like cocks, upon his
head. This was a staggerer-a pigeon |
with cocks comb The peaks of color
in feathers might be accounted for, but |
the comb No, it was impossible; the
columbia were too widely distinct from
the gallinm. 1 questioned the lad. He
declared it was true, and that he had |
seen the bird often. He calculated he |
knew a pigeon, and he knew what a
comb was. This was fine sleek bird,
with knowing look, and not bit
skeery.
If this is true, thought L, L will knock |
the naturalists endwise. A pigeon with !
a comb must have that bird. | will
give him to Mr.. Thornbury as a subject |
for lecture. He will go back of Oar
win, even. will write to Darwin my
self. 1t will be favorable opportunity
to get an autograph letter; for, of course,
the great man will acknowledge my SER
vice in the cause of science.
joe" said L, " if you can catch that
bird in trap-alive, 1 mean, and with
out iniury-I will give you ten dollars"
The boys face frightened with keen
intelligence, and he said: -" I'll try"
visited Mr.. Thornbury, and gave him
the news. Our discussion was animated
and long, but it need not be reproduced
| here.
! I had stipulated with Joe that, in
| case lie should catch the bird, he should
/ take the trap direct to my friends
! house.
Meanwhile the pigeon had been seen
by many persons, and it was noised
about in the grocery and provision stores
of the South end that his phenomenal
ornaments had excited great interest
among savants. Joe had, moreover, ex-
patiated upon his expected reward, and
had promised to take his "girl to the
theater on the strength of it.
When at length Joe made the capture,
and started off with the prize in the
grocers wagon, he was followed by
curious crowd. / got the word, and
started also BY the time l arrived there
were dozen persons in the front yard.
Joe had already alighted with the box,
and taken it indoors.
Mr.. Tooke Thornbury, in his best
blue coat, and with eyes that cleaned
behind his huge glasses, stood waiting
for the trap to be opened.
There the pigeon was, as bright q
creature as ever was seen, with purple
tail, scarlet-tipped wings, and coral
comb. The bird ran about the room
without fear, but did not choose to be
handled.
Mr.. Thornbulys emotion was extreme.
"Shades of Hunter and Button, of
Owen, Agassiz and Aristotle" he
calculated. "Am / too to be one of
you-kno wn to after-times rs one of the
great co-ordinates in science? The
COLUMBIA thornburyi shall mark a new
era in classification. Now we will see if
the director of the Stubbs institute, who
has refused to invite me to lecture, will
delay longer the acknowledgment of
my talents !"
Meanwhile the lively bird kept hop
ping about, gracefully eluding capture.
Mr.. Thornbury was unconscious of the
gradually increasing audience, as he
talked and meditated by turns. The
entry and doorway were filled with
eagerly curious folks.
There was slight rustic, then voice,
and quick footstep. A buxom and
saucy girl about twelve years of age, III
short dress, and wearing long braids of
yellow hair, rushed in, saying, in tone
TINT was like scolding and crying at
orne, II declare it's too bad Billy,
pretty Billy, come!"
She held out her hand, and the bird
rosa on his wings and alighted on her
finger. There there !" she said, sooth-
ingly Pretty Billy, kiss mel!
The bird put his bill to the full red
| lips and gave an audible coo of delight.
"Now, Joe Saunders" she said, turn
ing to the grocer's boy, you see if you
don't catch it ! Ny pa says there's II
law against setting traps for birds in the
city. Yes, poor Billy r' she said, caress-
ing the bird again, "they We're going to
cut you up giving spiteful glance at
Mr.. Thornbury), "but they shan't-no
= they shan't."
My feelings went through as many
phases as the colors of dying dolphin
There was pathetic as well as comic
side to the scene. The face of MI
Thornbury was study for picture o
, vacuity. He was at his wits end.
/ ventured to calm the girls wrath by
S adiniring her pet. "Those are very un
e usual colors," 1 said, pointing to the
l purple and scarlet tips.
$ 'Oh, did that" said the girl, gayly
; "Papa's carmine ink on the wing feath
ers, and violet on the tail feathers
Aren't they pretty?" Kiss Inc, Billy"
c "But his extraordinary comb!" gaspe,
4 Mr.. Thornbury.
Here the girl laughed outright, Will
+ her merry eyes shone and her fresh colo
: came.
Pretty nice, isn't it? I cut it out q
S red felt See the nice smooth ridges
: Just like a real comb It's stuck well
o hasn't it? Fish-glue doesn't soak of
G Nice Billy"
u And the pretty fiend dandled the OIL
. astrological monster up and down, Will
;, he chung to his perch on her finger, an
u u now and then futtered his carmint
u tinted wings and spread his violet tai
T. a>"Say goodbye to the gentleman" sal
y the girl, mischievously; and away sh
went.
} There was not much to be said (fror
= scientific point of view, and was
IA haste to settle with the grocer's cleve
= boy and be gone.
II feared that Mr. Thornbury would b
-. prostrated with the shock, but it is sill
~ gular to observe the elasticity of gres
= y minds.-F Fl, Underwood, IN Harper