Arizona silver belt., 1884-05-24
Saturday, May 24. 1884.
RUFFLING THEIR FEATHERS.

has more fight in it to the square inch than any animal living It is called the southern caracara, and is falcon. The first time l ever saw them we were lying in the harbor of the Falk- land Islands. l was sitting on the quarter-deck with the quarter-master, when one of these falcons darted in between us, and, seizing the quarter masters shiny hat in its talons, flew away. My companion seized a gun, firing at long range, and made the bird drop the hat; but before it reached the water another bird had it, and was soon high in air and out of sight.
 "They seemed to be attracted by anything bright, and it was almost impossible to keep anything hanging on the ship. They would tear the pennant into shreds and peck at the gilt ball on the mast. Iwatched one Zone day darting at some small fishes. The next moment it disappeared un- der water suddenly, then came up screaming and Tapping its wings, only to go down again, and then I saw that it had been nabbed by small man. cater; so they get their deserts some- times.
 five seen four or five standing about rabbit hole with thelr eyes fixed on it, ready to grab the animal as soon as.it came out. Mir. Darwin saw one dart at his dog while it was lying alongside of him asleep. He said it was impossible to hang any food or meat about the ship without placing guard over it, as the birds carried off everything they could get hold of, even such things as old rope, the handle of pistol, compass, or red pocketbook. One bird stole pair of heavy lead balls that the Patago- mans use in throwing at cattle.
 i've seen falcon attack horse so that the animal had to roll to get rid of it. They also prey upon small birds, and the faculty has been util- ized by training them to hunt herons.
 1.-The harpy eagle" continued the collector, lis very desperate when en- ragged. know of a case where one was shot and considered dead. The natives pulled its feathers out, even plueking 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 uHanhe party and attacked him so
 el :.a1 s- ...a.1i5 frrs ,sfr5 : i til iifttf that it reGuS!s1 two or three men to take it of, and the white man was badly wounded.
 "The white-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 thrush. They are used in falconry for small birds alone. When bird is seen the hun ter takes the falcon, rolls it up, and fires it as you would ball directly at the game. When near it the falcon recovers its wings, pounces on the as- tonished 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, snatch ing any article of food that comes in their way. When I was in Africa l saw 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 roDDeQ Dy the DlruS.
 "A friend told me some time ago of bird he saw in New South Wales, honey eater, called the mygantha gar rula. One day he was set upon by hundreds of these birds. They darted at him, striking at his face, pecking his clothes, lowering in front and above in clouds, and uttering wild cries. His dog seemed especially to excite their ire, and they alighted on his back, tore out blllfulls of hair, pecked 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 country, as they frighten the animals away.
 "In Brazil have met with a bird that is very pugnacious. The natives train it to care for their focks and poultry. Its name is the chaja. They stand among the flock of fowls and if hawk pounces down attack it with great fury, They act in the same way if large animals, such as the jaguar, appear.
 Gs0po nf tho bowar b;rds ,>orco,n,, n l