The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-29

it, as the birds carried off everything they
could get hold of, even such things as old
rope, the handle of a pistol, a compass, or a
red pocketbook. One bird stole a pair of
heavy lead balls that the Patagonians use in
throwing at cattle. They had been brought
on board as a curiosity.
i've seen a falcon attack a horse so that
the animal had to roll to get rid of it. They
also prey upon small birds, and the faculty.
has been utilized by training them to aunt
herons.
THE harry eagle" continued the collect
or is very desperate when enraged. I
know of a case where one was shot and con-
sldered dead. The natives pulled its feathers
out. even plucking the down. which they use
IN dressing wounds. In this condition the
bird was tossed into the canoe. But all at
once it sprang at the white man of the party
and attacked him so violently with its talons
and bill that it required two or three men to
take it off, and the white man was badly
wounded.
The white-naped falcons of the East In
dies are savage fellows. They have been
known to attack human beings, striking at
the head, though they are hardly as large as
a thrush: They are used in faleonry for
small birds alone. When a bird is seen the
hunter takes the falcon. rolls it up, and fires
1t as you would a ball directly at the game
When near it the falcon RECEIVERS its wings,
pounces on the astonlshed game, and brings
it to his master.
Kites" said the collector, 'have even
more audacity than falcons. One is named
the Parasite because it spends so much time
stealing from others. They often dart into
wagons, snatching any article of food that
comes in their way. When l was in Africa
l saw a kite dash into camp and tear a piece
OF meat out of the hand of an Arab while he
was passing it to his mouth. and the dogs
were frequently robbed by the birds.
"A friend told me some time ago of a bird
hn CO NJ in Nav GA,7t6 lN,1o, n $500.
called the mygantha garrula. One day he was
set upon by hundreds of these birds. They
darted az him, striking at his face, pecking
his clothes, lowering in front and above in
clouds, and u~ttering wild cries. His dog
seemed especially to excite their ire, and
they alighted on his back, tore out bills full
of hair, peeked at his head when he tried to
defend himself, and tormented him so that
the poor creature ran bowling away. They
spoil the hunting in this part of the coun-
try, as they brighten the animals away.
I'm Brazil l have met with a bird that is
very pugnacious. The natives train it to
care for their locks and poultry. Its name
is the chaja. They stand among the flock OF
fowls, and if a hawk pounceS down attack it
with the greatest fury. They act in the same
way If large animals, such as the jaguar, APP
pear.
One of the bower birds performs a like
office for large animals, such as Wild oxen
and the hippopotamus. In Africa they
gather about the animals and pick the insects
from their hides, and upon the approach of
danger rise in a flock with cries, causing the
animals to look up and see the enemy in time
to escape.
"You would hardly expect to find feelings
of revenge in a bird like the sparrow, yet a
curious case has been. ~t--T'--@ = P-7~~ra
When the sparrows iuapons, s,o,, nr I'm a"'
built in a certain g:eago Ex"'
they found their pla,
Every attempt was m
nest was torn apart nUAe
but still the other bird heIuF
nest was in a sheltered corner, an
rows seemed to make up their minds mat II
they could not have the place no one should
So they brought mud in their mouths, with
which they ultimately entombed the other
bird, entirely walling it up.
In Australia there is a parrot that is eaten
to some extent. OF all birds it is probably
the most cruel. 1t confines its attacks en-
tirely to sheep, doing so much damage thata
price has been put upon its head.