The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1884-06-06
NO. 9.

er suddenly. then II came up screaming
and happing It's wings. only to 70 down
again. and then saw IL had besn nab
bed by small maneater: 50 they get
their deserts sometimes.
-I've seen four or i've standing about
a rabbit hole with their eyes nxed ON
u. ready to grab the animal as soon as
it came out NJ rarwln saw one dart
at his dog while 1t WAS lying alongside
OF him asleep. lie said II was impos-
sible TO hang any food or meat about
the ship without placing guard over
II. Ms the birds carried OF everything
they could get hold OF. even such things
as old rope. the handle Of a pistol. a
compass. or red pocketlook. One
bird stole a pair OF heavy lead balls
that the Pategonians Use In throw ing
at cattle.
1--we seen falcen attack a horse so
that the animal had TO roll 10 get rid
OF II. They also prey upon small birds.
and the faculty has been utilized by
training them to hunt herons.
"fhe harry eagle" confined the col.
lector, rs very desperate when enrag-
ed. know Of case where one was
shot and considered dead. The natives
pulled its feathers out. even plucking
the down, which they use In dressing
wounds. In this condition he was
tossed into the canoe. But all at once
It sprang at the white man of the party
and attacked him so violently with it's
talons and bill that 1t required two or
three men TO take it Off. and the white
man was badly wounded.
"The whlte-naped falcons OF the
East Indies are savage fellows. They
have been known to attack human be-
ings. striking at the head. though they
are hardly as large AS u thrush. They
are used used in falconry for small
birds alone. When bird is seen the
hunter takes the falcon. rolls It up, and
fires 1t as you would "A ball directly ut
the game. When near IL the falcon
recovers It's wings, pounces on the as-
tonished game and brings 1t to his mas
ter.
"kites," said the collector. shave even
more audacity than falcons. One is
named the parasite because IL spends
SO much time stealing from others.
They often dart into wagons, snatch
ing any article of food that comes in
their way. When / was in Africa |
saw kite dash Into camp and tear
piece of meat out of the hand OF an
Arab while he was passing 1t to his
mouth, and the dogs were frequently
robbed by the birds.
"A friend told me sometime ago Of a
bird he saw in New South Waes,a honey
eater. called the mygantha garruIa.
One day he was set upon by hundreds
of these birds. They darted at him,
striking Mt his face. pecking his clothes,
lowering in front and above IN clouds,
and utteling cries. His dog seemed
especially to excite their ire, and they
alighted on his back. tore out billfulls
of hair, pecked at his head when he
tried TO defend himself. and torment
ed him so that the poor creature ran
bowling away. They spoil the hunt
ing IN this part of the country, as they
frighten the animals away.
"In Brazil l have met with a bird
that Is very pugnaclous. The natives
tram it 10 care for their nocks Of poul-
try. Its name is chaja They stand
among the flock of fowls and If 6. hawk
pounces down attack it with great
fury. They act in the same way IL
large animals, such as the jaguar, ap-
pear.
"One of the bower birds performs a
like Office for large animals. such as
wild oxen and the hippopotamus. In
Africa they ather about the animals
and pick the insects from their hides,
and upon the approach OF danger rise
in flock with cries, causing the ami.
mails to look up and see the enemy in
time to escape.
"ln Austria there is a parrot that Is
eaten TO some extent. OF all birds 1t IL
probably the most cruel. 1t confines
its attacks entirely to sheep, doing so
much damage that price has been put
on its head