Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-26
ABOUT BIRDS.

ElSnty leagues III Sixty minutes How
is that for speed The swifts' do this and
you will acknowledge that if to live is to
move, act and travel, then birds live more
in the space of time than any other Great
ures.n
"A bird is a model ship. The breast
bone is like the pointed keel, the wings are
the oars, the tail is the rudder Their bones
and feathers are hollow tubes filled with
air, and all between the muscles are air
cells, which buoy them up, and even the
feathers are laid in the right direction to
assist their speed "
Thus, without stopping for breath, did
my two youngsters pour out the intelli-
gence they had gained from visit with
their teacher to the Zoo"
" Yes, and good walkers are bad FLYERS.
and good flyers are bad walkers and those.
like owls, who can't see well can hear best.
and those who have the plainest coats sing
best, and their voices can be heard farther
than a lions roarl "
This gush of wonders What would
come next?
They can see so far and feel the least
touch if the wind changes, and hear every
thing. Oh, We can't tell you all they can
dol
IF you will let me will tell you some
thing have just been reading about birds. -
| said quietly, hoping to reduce their ex-
element
They leaned on my lap, expectation with
in their open mouths and brilliant eyes
The very swifts you mentioned pos
sess such exquisite keenness of sight that
they can see a gnat-almost the smallest
visible thing-500 yards away; think of it,
800 feet! Belons, the naturalist, tells us
this. The kite, higher up in the air than
we can pretend to see it, will spot minnow
rising on the water, or a field mouse ven
turing out of its hole, and catch them.
Some hunters in Bengal killed a wild
beast, which they left outside their tent Z.
an ho1r afterward one of them saw dark
speck in the blue and cloudless sky. 1t
seemed to be coming straight toward them.
Soon they noticed other specks from differ
ent sections coming in the same course.
and in less than an hour seventy vultures
were trying Tor pick at the dead beast.
Travellers in the East say that at Aieppo.
which is so situated that it can be seen at a
great distance it is common diversion TO
stand on the fiat roof of the houses and
make gestures as though scattering crumbs.
and before you can account for it flocks of
birds are swarming around, coming from
somewhere out of space
lone would think they couldn't see
nearby things so well, but they seem to be
equally good ut far-Sjght near-sitrht and
ouick-sight." '-'N'
mn on ~ ioN sloh1'
nave llttle story to tell you, boys,
the Old doctor said to the young people the
other evening. "One day-a long, hot day
1t had been, tool met my father on the
road to town.
wish you would take this package 70
the village for me, JIM he said, hesitating.
Now, l was a boy of II, not fond OF
work, ana was Just out of the hay field,
where had been at work since daybreak.
1t was two miles into town, and | wanted
10 get my supper, and to wash and dress
LOT Slnglng-school.
MY hrSt impulse was to refuse, and to
do 1t harshly, for l was vexed that he
should ask me after a long days work. If
l did refuse he would go himself He was
a gentle patient old man: But something
stopped me-one OF Gods good angels, |
think;
VI course, iather. L II take it, | said,
heartily, giving my scythe, to one of the
men. he gave me the package.
Ihank you, jim. he said was 60
ing myseli, out somehow don't feel very