Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-03-24
A Darwinian Diversion.

with scarlet-tipped wings, purple tail
feathers, and small well-shaped comb,
like cocks, upon his head. This was a
staggerer-s pigeon with cocks comb ,
The peaks of color in feathers might lie
accounted for, but the combl No, it was
impossible; the columba were too wide
ly distinct from the gallina. l question
ed the lad. He declared it was true, and
that he had seen the bird often. He cal
culated he knew pigeon, and he knew
what comb was. This was fine sleek
bird, with a knowing look, and not bit
skeery.
If this is true. thought l, 1 will knock
the naturalists endwise. A pigeon with
a combl / must have that bird. 1 will
/ give him to Mr.. Thornbsry as a subject
for lecture. He win go back of Dar-
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 a trap-alive, l mean, and with
out INJURY will give you ten dollars"
| The boys face frightened with keen
intelligence. and he said, "Pll 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
about in the grocery and provision stores
of the South End that his phenomenal
ornaments had excited great interest
among servants. Joe had, moreover, ex-
patiated upon his expected reward, and
had promised to take his girl to the
theatre on the strength of it.
When at length Joe made the capture,
and started off with the prize in the gro
GERS wagon. he was followed by curl
Gus 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 he opened.
There the pigeon was, as bright
creatuae 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.
MIR. Thornbury's emotion was ex-
treme. "ShAdes Of Hunter and Button,
of Owen, Agassiz, and Aristotlel" he
calculated. "Am l to be one of you
known to after times as one of the great
ce-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
delay longer the acknowledgment of my
talentsp'
Meanwhile the lively bird kept hop
ping about, gracefully eluding capture.
Mr.. Thornbnry was unconscious of the
gradually increasing audience, as he
talked and meditated by turns. The en-
try and doorway were filled with eager
ly curious folk.
There was slight rustic, then a voice,
and quick footstep. A buxOm and suucy
girl about twelve years of age, in short
dress, and wearing long braids of yellow
hair, rushed in, saying, in tone that
was like scolding and crying at once, Il
declare it's too badi Billy, pretty Billy,
Gomez
She held out her hand, and the bird
rose on his wings and alighted on her
finger "Therel thersp she said, sooth-
ingly; "Prstty Billy. kiss meT
The bird put his bill to the full red lips,
and gave an audible COO of delight.
"Noto, Joe Saunders" she said, turn
ing to the grocer's boy, ''you see if
you don't catch It'll My pa says
there's law against setting traps for
birds in the city. Yes, poor Billyl" she
said, caressing the bird again, "they
were going to cut you up" giving a
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 a pathetic as well as a comic
side to the scene. The face of Mr.Thorn-
bury was a study for picture of vacu-
ity. He was at his wits end.
ventured to calm the girls wrath by
admiring her pet. "Those are very un-
usual colors," said, pointing to the pur-
pie and scarlet tips.
"Oh, I did that" said the girl, gayly.
"Papa's carmine ink on the wing feath-
ers. Aren't they pretty? Kiss me,
Billy"
"But this extraordinary combw gasped
Mr. Thernbury.
Here the girl laughed outright, while
her merry eyes shone and her fresh col
or came.
"Pretty nice, isn't it? 1 cut it out of
red felt. See the nice smooth ridges
just like real comb It's stuck well.
hasn't its Fish-glue doesn't soak off.
Nice Billyp
And the pretty fend dandled the or
astrological monster up and down, while
he clung to his perch on her finger, and
now and then luttered his carmlne-tint-
ed wings and spread his violet tail.
"Say good-by to the gentlemen" said
the girl, mischievously; and away she
went.
There was not much to be said from
scientific point of view, and was in
haste to settle with the grocer's clever
boy and be gone.
| feared that Mr.. Thornbury would
be prostrated with the shock, but it is
] oil tf, nhaarvQ fhQ plaQfiOltU 0f
great minds.-F. H. UNDERWOOD, in
Harper's Magazine for April.
| -"When 1 was a young man." says
Billings, 81 was always in hurry to
hold the big end of the log and do all
the lifting; now am older, l seize hold