The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-05-19
A Dsrwinain Diversion.

scarlet tipped wings, purple tail-ieathers,
and small well.shaped comb, like ,hs
cocks, upon his head This was a stag
gerer "A pigeon with cock = comb The
peaks Of color in feathers might he ao.
counted for, but the comb! No, II was
impossible; oauaba were too widely dis,
distinct from the ,Jt,'tSo, questioned
the lad He declared il was true, and
that he had seen the bird often. He cal.
culated he knew apigeon, and he knew
what comb was. This was sleek bird,
with knowing look, and not bit skeery.
II this is true, thought |, ! will knock
the naturalists endwise. Apigeon with
comb | must have that bird, Twill
give to Mr.. Thornbury as a subject for a
lecture, He will go back Of Darwin, even.
| will write to Darwin myself Ii will be a
favorable opportunity get an autograph
letter. for. OF course, the great man will
acknowledge my service in the cause of
science.
Joe. said ], "if You can catch that
bird in trap-aliye, ! mean, aud with
out injury-I will give you ten dollars
The boys face frightened with a keen
intelligence, and he said, "lll try"
visited Mr.. Thornbury, and gave him
the news. Our discussion was animated
and long, but it need not be reproduced
here
had stipulated with Joe that in case he
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 in the
grocery and provision stores of the South
End that his phenomenal ornaments had
excited great interest among savants.
Joe had, moreover, expatiated upon his
expected reward, and had promised to
take his girl to the theatre on the
strength Of it.
When at last Joe made the capture, and
and started off with his prize in the gro
GERS wagon, he was followed oy curious
crowd, ] got the word, and started also.
BY the time / arrived there 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 Great
ure 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. Thornbury's emotion was extreme,
''Sbades.of Hunter and Button, of Owen
Agassiz, and Aristotlel" he calculated.
'Am too to be one of yorktown TO af-
ter.times as one of the great co-ordinatss
Of science? The Colnmba TholwbnryiI
shall mark new era in classification.
Now we will see if the director of the
Stubbs Institute, who has refused to in
yitc me to lecture, will delay longer the
acknowledgment of my talentsl'
Meanwhile the lively bird kept hopping
about, gracefully eluding capture Mr.
Thornbury was unconcious of the gradually
audience, as he talked and medi. {
tated by turns. The entry and doorway
were well filed with eagerly curious folks.
There was rustic, then voice, and a |
quick footstep. A buxom and saucy !
girl about twelve years of age, in a short
1ress' and wearing long braids of yellow
hair, rushed in, saying in tone that was !
ike seolding and crying at one, Il declare
is too bad Billy, pretty Billy, comel"
She held out her hand, and the bird rose t
IN his wings and aliQhted on her finger. t
'There therel' she said, soothingly: Il
pretty Billy, kiss mer' a
The bird put his bill to the full red lips, v
md gave an audible coo OF delight I
Now, Joe Saunders, " she said, turning
o the grocer's boy, you see if you don't n
atch it, My pa Says there's a law against q
citing traps for birds in the city. Yes ]
'oor Billyl' she said, caressing the bird
gain, they were going to cut you up" n
giving spiteful glance at Mr.. Thorn. Il
'ury), but they shant-no, they sbant. y
My feelings went through as many Il
hases as the colors of dying dolphin. G
here was pathetic as well as comic "
lde to the scene. The face Of Mr. Thorn d
ury was study for picture of vacvity. h
lie was at his wits end. "
l ventured to calm the girls wrath by X
dmiring her pet "Those are very unsua b
olors, / said, pointing to the purple and
carlet tips.
"Oh, did that, said the girl, gayly. Il
Papa's carmine ink on the tail feathers. q
rent they pretty? Kiss me. Billy?" IL
''But his extraordinary comb" gasped II
[r. Thornbury. N
Here the girl laughed outright, while 81
er merry eyes shone and her fresh color a.
ime' L
Pretty nice, isn't it +? cut it out OF ol
ID felt See the nice smooth ridges like ty
real combl It's stuck WE'LL hasn't il =? st
lsh glue doesn't soak Off Nice Billy" el
And the pretty fend dandled the orni- h
biological monster up and down, while he &C
ung 10 his perch on her finger, and now eo
I'd then futtering his carmine-ti tinted pl
ings and spread his violet tail. pl
Say good by to the gentlemen. said re
. girl, mischieyously; and away she 1t
ent OF
There was not much to he said, from on
ientihic point Of view, and was in sh
.ste to settle with the grocers clever boy v,
ID he gone. de-