Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-02-13
The Birds OF the Sea.


large bird, with black piumaec, aEd
some specimens have Ueon found to
mCafure fourteen feet from tip to tip OF
the extended wings. 1t is blEd of
powerful and rapid flight, scars to
a great elevation, and Is extremely
graceful ID It's evoluucns. Flying g-fishes
constitute a large portion of its focd; If
docs not dive under water for its plev.
but seizes that which appears upon tue
surface. IL is sometimes seen on the
Atlantic Ocean a thousand miles from
shore, which it is said II never visits
except during the season for Matching.
1t is able to sleep while posing itself on
its wings at great height.
The power 10 remain so long on The
wing is attril uted to the great heat in
the birds body. This heat expans
the sIr IN the lnpes, bones, quills,
feathers ard air sacs, so that 1t makes
1t easy to keep afioat in the higher
regions. Animal food furnishes more
heat than vegetable food, hence binds
OF prey have higher temperature and
can remain longer on the wing than
birds which live entirely upon seeds.
lit alUGtAOoo 10 kIC t3NGt va AA-N
oceanic birds, frequently weighing up
wards of thirty pounds. Its cry Is dis
cofdant, and resembles the braying of
an ass. When ON shore it is a stupid
looking bud, with little claim to grace
fuIress. 1t viii allow itself to be
toppled from its rudely-ouilt nest, which
it slowly Tesains, after houncering
awkwaIdly around for a time. In at
tempting to tiyit is unsuccessful until
it gets the air under lis wings; in order
to ard itself IN this respect 1t generally
selects a mound or elevated point.
In the air, however, IT seems like
another creature, and soars about in
the most graceful curves. 1t Is often
seen at a great distance from land, and
though native of southern capes, Its
migrations may almost be said to ex-
tend from pole 10 pole. The sailors
regard tins companion OF their voyages
with superstlt GUS fondI ess.
The aIbatIoss Is extremely yofaci Gus
and Will iced upon any kind of carrion.
1t gUrges itst II like the vulture and then
sits motioniess upon the water, so that
1t may sometimes be taken with the
hard. 1t is rot courageous bird. and
is often compelled 10 yield up its prey
to sea eagles, and even to the larger
kind of gulls. Albatrosses appear In
great numbers towards the end OF June
about the KuliIe Islands, the inhabIt-
ants of which catch them by baited
hooks, blow up the enirails for floats TO
their nets, and make tobacco pipes and
various domestic articles OF the wing
bones. Within the Antkrtic Circles a
species Is found which the sailors call
Quaker birds, on account of the pre-
vallIug brown color OF their plumage.
PeDguins have short wings, which
unfit them for flight, but are admirably
adapted Tor swimming and used much
hike the turtles use tLeIr hsppers. They
are principally found III high southern
latitude. Ore species, called "Chl!d
Bird by the PeTuvians, Is easily tanned
and Will follow It's master ana answer
to It's Iame. Ii Waodles after hIm IN a
comical manner, pump IL body and
short III Its Ii tgs, keeping Its balance by
a constant movement OF Its little wings.
In some regions the peneuiDs are
pIodIgioUsly nun eTCus, appearing on
tLe shores like regiments OF soldiers or
hike Lanes OF little children IN white
aprons. Mr.. Bennett says that one
breeding ground on Mscquarie Island
covered forJy aUTes ana that from 30,
coo to 40, O0O engmns were continually
lanolDg ana a many more continually
putting out to sea, They are stupid
Dircs ana eau readily be knocked down
ls, IL.
charge of her young for nearly twelve
pontns.
Tie pelicans are widely distributed ,
and frequent the shores of seas, lakes
and rivers. Although of powerful wing,
they are seldom seen at a great DIST nee
from land. They catch their prey by
hoYering over the water and plunglng
upon 1t when 1t appears. The sudden
sWoop Of a flock of pelicaDs upon q
shoal OF fish Is said to be an exciting
tLeIr prey IL their IOuch, from which
they bring Il cut AT leisure, either toi
their own eating or to iced their young
The pouch Is capable OF being wrInkieo
up into small size or being greatly dIs-
tended.
Durirg The night the penguin sits
with Its Dill Testing on Its breast Ihe
hook at the end oi the bill Is red, and
II Is supposed that the fable OF the pen
FUN ieeuing Its young with blood Ion
lis breast originated from Its habit oi
pressing the bIll upon the breast IL
order the more easily to empty the
pouch, when the red np might be mis-
taken Tor blood.
1t is known that the kingfsher was
the halcyon OF antiquity. 1he charm.
ing fables declare tnat Its nest was q
floating cradle, which 1t intIusted to tie
sea, rocked IN 1T along with Its nestl
ines. IL was toward the time Of the
setting of the Plelades that the bird oi
the storm built its nest. ''Then the
murmur OF the waves ceased and the
wind grew stIll III order that the work
OF God might be accomplished on a
tranquil sea" Those peaceful days oc-
CURED IN the east at the winter solstice,
anu the sailoIs called them the "day S
OF the halcyon.
There Is a bud, however, Which does
commit It's lest To the water, 1t in-
Lai It's lens, and Is called the little
gr,be. she bloods upon her nest, and
when disturbed p.unges her feet into
the waIer, and using them as paddles,
rows OH with her hest, the fTail skIff re
sen bling a nt.le hoatlL island.
Some singular supIrS Ilions existed
in old times about the kngfisher, Ii
Was believed that when hung by the
by the bill above the deck OF a vessel II
Won indicate the direction OF the wind
by tuning lis breast toward that part
OF ihe horizon. This power was graveiy
a tiIOuted to occult magI erisml The
Tartars Hack tine feathers fIom q
kngdsher, throw them into the water,
then carefully preserve such as float.
They believe that II they touch a woman
with one OF the feathers, or even hel
clothes, she Will tall IN love with them
The Ostlacs take the skin, bill and Claws
of lhe bird, ana shutting them up III q
purse, look upon the latter as al
amulet which will protect Them from
VII,
1Ie al pearlnce of the osprey on the
coasts OF Moth America, aud the gar
net upon the shor, OF England, Is re-
3ardt by fishermen as an indication
OF a pr, speTous fishing season. The
TEN IS aiso Lal'e1 as a harbInger oi
good .uck. To see but one magpie IL
tie pnng ia conside Ell 10y fishermen