The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-02-24
Cranks Among Animals,

els that one?" the reporter asked,
as hen ran by with her tongue hang.
ing out.
"No." the owner replied. CAN
signs fail in dry weather. Her tongue
certainly has slew to the left, but
there's no congenital malformation of
the brain, and" confdentially, "she's
got the pip. But il you want to see
bird that is a moral monstrosity, and
always has a morbid project on hand,
Just walk through this COOP" indicat-
ing one that contained number OF
fine game bsntams.
The reporter opened the gate and
stepped in, the chickens retreating, with
ono exception, to the inner house.
This exception was q rooster hardly as
large rs a good-sized pigeon, with high
colors, very red, old-fashioned face,
and most formidable spurs.
Look out for him." the owner said,
as the diminutive grower came near in
a most friendly manner. The warning
was not too soon. as when within foot
of the reporter the bird made rush,
caught the leg of his trousers in its
mouth, and hammered away with its
spurs 60 that blood came before it could
be pulled off. It's little red eyes blazed
with fire, and as the reporter pulled it
off by main force and tossed it away it
rushed again to tho attack, until re.
treat to the outer yard was ordered.
"There's moral obliquity for you,"
the owner said, laughing.
The reporter suggested that it might
come under the head Of "pure cussed.
ness"
NO." he said. "the birds not re-
sponsible. One would think that the
bird was good fighter, but he won't
stand up before bird Of his own size.
he turns tail and runs. / bought him
from man. downtown who raises
game birds. He wanted to get rid of
this one, as he wouldn't fight, but
sometimes he'd get cranky and chase
him all round the room, 80 that he'd
have to take broom and beat him of.
Sometimes the little crank would get
on the boxes, and the first thing he
knew the bird would be on his head
picking and hammering like mailman.
Therefore, had no trouble in getting
it. He seems to be down on all msn-
kind, and will attack you in the mean.
est and most underhanded way. In
fact, the birds good deal Off on one
subject.
"Now, here's hen," he continued,
pointing to fine speckled Polish.
"For the last two weeks she has been
trying to crow, and has succeeded quite
well. and have no doubt labors under
the delusion that she is rooster. In
fact, among chickens you can find all
grades Of mental trouble. My hrJwn
Polish birds are the most nervous, and
ve,y peculiar in their habits. They
always run alone, and when caught
seem perfectly crlzod with fear. Leg
horns are nervous, while these Ply
mouth Rocks are phlegmatic, never
disturbed by anything, and are very
cheerful, singing all day long in tho
summer. But here's Bird" moving
toward glass-faced cage, 'thst is hope
lessly insane. 1t was beautiful cfea-
ture Of a gorgeous blue and red color,
with long yellow legs and beautiful
mild, brown eye, the Purple Gallinule.
caught 1t in Florida, and it actually
went insane from fear. 1t had been
blowing n heavy noriher for several
days, and many birds were blown
ashore. They took refuge in moat
that surrounds the fort on Garden Key.
got out my boat and caught several,
tn : wind blowing too hard for them to
rise; but this one gave me long
chase, diving, trying to climb up the
high wall. and turning its head and body
into every possible position as il de-
mented, and finally it rushed at tin
drain pipe and got into it, and there
caught it. But when hauled it out, it
acted as if it was half dead, curious
spasms passing over its body, but it
came to after put it in box. For a
long time it seemed to go crazy when
alarmed, and, in fact, has never gotten
over it. Jus. watch it now."
Taking small paper bag, he blow
il up and exploded it in front Of the
bird. 1t dropped as il dead, but soon
came to, and ran round in most aim.
less way, twisting its neck md jumping
into the air. That this was not done
from fright altogether was evident from
the fact that it was taken with the same
| fits at any and all times without the
| least provocation. Mr.. George Ord, of
| Philadelphia, tells OF q similar case in a
common rail. The bird had concealed
| itself in drain near his house during
heavy rain storm, and was discovered
by him the next morning. Tho bird
was placed in small room on case,
and he was amusing himself with it
when, in the act of pointing his finger
at it, it suddenly sprang forward, ap-
parently much irritsted, fell to the door,
and, stretching out its feet and bending
its neck until tho head nearly touched
its back, became to all appearances life
less. Thinking that the fall had killed
the bird, he took it up, but in few min
utesit began to breathe, but it was some
time before it had perfectly recovered.
He placed the bird in a room where
there were canaries, resolving to find
out if it was not passion of anger that
had produced the fit. On entering
again the bird retired to the corner in
sullen huplor, and as soon as no point
ed his finger at it its feathers became
Immediately rufiied, and it sprang for
ward as before, having O lt rs in the
first instance. Mr.. Ord adds: "Some-
time after, as was shooting among the
reeds, saw rail rise few feet from
the batteau. The bird had risen about
yard when it became entangled in the
tops Of small bunch Of weeds and i'm
mediately fell. It's feet and neck were
extended, and before it had time to re-
cover 1 killed it," A few days after
ward friend and himself were shoot
ing in the same place, and q rail was
killed, and near it was seen another in
fit. He took it.up and placed it in
his hat, where it soon came TO, and he
adds: These facts 60 to prove that
the rail Is subject to gusts Of passion,
which operate to so violent degree as
to produce disease similar to epi-
lepsy in its effects"
An Ancient Horror.
The Vienna NeHe Ffsie Presse quotes
| a.