St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-03-01
PugnaciOus Birds.

that has more fight in it to the square
inch than any animal living. 1t is
called the Southern Caracara, and is a
falcon. The first time | ever saw them
we were lying in the harbor of the Falk-
land Islands. l was sitting on the
quarter deck with the quartermaster,
when one of these falcons darted in be-
tween us. and, seizing the quartermas-
ter's shiny hat in its talons, flew away.
| My companion seized a gun. fired at
long range. and made the bird drop the
hat; but before it reached the water an
other bird had it. and it was soon high
in air and out of sight.
''They seemed to be attracted by any,
thing bright, and it was almost impos-
s;ble to keep anything hanging on the
ship. They would tear the pennant in
to shreds and peck at the gilt ball on
the mast. watched one one day dart
ing at some small fishes The next mo-
ment it disappeared under water sud-
denly, then came up screaming and
flapping its wings, only to 90 down
again, and then l saw that it had been
nabbed by a small maneater; so they
get their deserts sometimes.
'.Iye seen four or five standing about
a rabbit-hole with their 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 a guard over it,
as the birds carried off everything they
could get hold of, even such things as
old rope, the handle of a pistol, COM
pass, or red pocket-book. One bird
stole 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 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 utilized by
training them to hunt herons
1.-The harpy eagle" continued the
collector, sis very desperate when en-
ragged. 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 the bird was
tossed into the canoe. But all at once
it sprang a. the white man of the party
and attacked him su 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
Indies are savage fellows. They have
been known to attack human beings,
striking at the head, though they are
IIyr I0
used in falcOnry for small birds alone.
" hen bird is seen the hunter takes
the falcon, rolls it up, and fires it as
you would ball directly at the game
When near it the falcon RECEIVERS its
wings, pounces on the astonished game
and brings it to his master.
"hites," said the collector, shave
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 saw q
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
bird he saw in New South Wales.
honey eater, called the mygantha gar
rula. One day he was set upon by
hundreds of these hi -ds. 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 ex .ite their
ire. and they alighted on his back, tore
out bills full Of hair. pecked at his head
when he tired to defend himself, and
tormented him SO that the poor crea-
ture ran howlng away. They spoil
the hunting in this part of the country,
as they frighten the animals away.
I'm Brazil have met with a bird
that is very pugnacious. The natives
train it to care for their flocks and
poultry. Its name is the chaia. They
stand among the flock of fowls. and if q
hawk pounces down attack it with the
greatest fury. They act in the same
way if large animals, such as the jaguar
appear.
lone 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 flock with cries, causing the ami
mails to look up and see the enemy in
time to escape.
"You would hardly expect to find
feelings of revenge in bird like the
sparrow, yet a curious case has been
observed in France. When the spar
rows that for many years had fuilt in
a certain garden came to rebuild they
found their place taken by another
bird. Every attempt Was made to dis
lodge it. The nest was torn apart and
the owner attacked, but still the other
bird held the fort. The nest was in
sheltered corner, and the sparrows
seemed to make up their minds that il
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 wall
ing 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 entirely to sheep, doing so
much damage that price has been put
upon its head."-N Y. Sun.