Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-11-27

ems, which were looked upon by the
numerous rats of the premises rs legiti-
mate prey. The feathered youngsters
disappeared rapidly until the old hen
decided thVt the thing had gone far
enough. One morning she saw large
and insOlent rat edging toward the
brood, and in an instant she flew at him,
caught him by the back and carried him
to a tubful Of water and dropped him
in. He was speedily drowned, and his
companions took warning and thereaf-
.er let that old hen and her chicks
alone.
The Washington Gazette narrates a
fight between dog and bull, both the
property of farmer known TO the edi-
tor. The dog got the bull by the ear,
when the latter animal raised his head
aud ran straight through very strong
staked and ridered fence, pushing his
way through with the dog in front.
The rails flew in every direction, and
the dog had several bones broken. When
clear OF the fence he was glad 10 let go
his hold and quit the field of action.
A rash bear entered yard on n ranch
near Los Angeles and killed a pig. The
man in charge went to the house to get
a gun, but before he could return the
intruder was attacked by drove OF
mules and kicked at from right to left.
He at first showed fight, but on finding
the mules too much for him made his
escape by climbing t.ee, where he
was soon captured and led into cap.iv-
ity.
A San Francisco gentleman describes
a fight he witnessed between some sixty
mud-hens and some seventy sea-gulls.
The contest was sharp and fierce. A
gull would dart at mud-hen and dis
able it with savage bill blow, or, with
sudden charge, strike ii viciously
with its wing, the blow resounding In
the air. The mud-hens would dive un-
der the water and seize the gulls by the
legs or wings and drag them under.
Sometimes three or four of the hens
would combine against one gull, aud
that was usually the end OF him.
The Manchester Courier relates a sim
gular sea fight between birds and fishes.
The sea was calm, and many birds were
seen moving about with great rapidity,
occasionally disappo airing beneath the
water and coming up again half stran-
gled. AS the vessel approached 1t was
seen that a shoal of fish several acres IN
extent was visible on the water. a
bird would alight on the back of fish,
spread its tail or wings to catch the
breeze, dig its claws deep into the finny
monsters hide, and go before the wind
with such speed as to soon drown its
victim. The bird would then devour
the fish at its leisure.
In China great sport is had i'll WIT
Messing fights between trained snap
ping turtles. The turtles have been
starved and tcased for week, and then
let loose at each other. The fight is al
way. to the death. Generally the legs
are the main points Of attack, and often
both reptiles will loose limb In the
first round. The fight generally lasts
about ten hours. In other parts oil
China wildcats are trained to fight each
other and to fight dogs. Male rats are
also trained, and make desperate COM
bats with each other. They are placed
in small rings, not more than three feet
in diameter. The contests are sharp
and short, seldom lasting more than
twenty minutes. Each tries to strike
the other on the throat, just behind the
ear, and when he succeeds death fol-
lows. Quail are also trained to fight
each other. The attack is made with
beak, wing and claw.-CiHcinndti En-