Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-19
BIRD SENSE.
A LESSON FROM THE WOODS.
How a woodeeck PROJECTED u'r fo""a '''"'
acsn,ns--A very smar pedse'
iEoyest and Stream.

uew n weodeeck PROJECTED TER Yoans from
scap,ns-A very smart DODGE
Forest and stream.I
Unable 20 resist the subtle influence
Of the balmy south wind Of yesterday;
redolcnt with cherry blossoms and
forerunner OF many such days to come
/ was strolling along one OF the less
f,eouented roads in the immediate
vicinity Of the village. My four-iooted
companion-a satin-skinned pointer,
associate of many happy day, with
ruling passion strong, explored every
copse and thicket, regardless he OF a
scratched body and a bleeding TAIL
could he but gain one Whit OF that IN.
toxicating odor, far dearer to him thanall
the "Sabean odors from the spicy shore
Of Arabic the blest." After an Ao-
scnce somewhat more protracted than
usual casual search in the direction !
had last seen him revealed him point
ing as expected. The character OF
the ground. a rough hillock covered
with tangled cat-briers and white
birches, and contiguous to a deep alder
swamp, left little doubt as to the ma
ture Of the game, while the glaring
eyes. the quiyering nostrils, and the
rigid stern left equally little doubt as
the few feet, or perhaps inches, that
separated the educated animal from his
natural prey.
While admiring the beautiful picture
and hesitating to interfere, very large
hen bird topped heavily up, clearing
the brier with difficulty, only TO drop
with sounding thud yard OF two in
advance. Almost at the same second
the smaller but more vigorous cock
bird, with the familiar ringing whistle,
sprang twenty feet into the air and away
over the tops Of the budding birches,
across the brook, skirting a wide mea-
dow, nor pausing nor faltering, until,
with sudden dart and turn. he wheeled
sharply into copse Of alders and
swamp NAPLES, cutie different species
of bird apparently from his iluttering
mate. The latter, naturally shy and
retiring bird, appeared to have lost all
fear Of man or beast in her anxiety for
her little family's welfare, each one of
whom had doubtless sought shelter at
once under some protecting deaf leaf at
the very first indication of danger.
So thoroughly, indeed, were the
little youngsters slowed away that,
although the rude nest containing the
four broken shells were in plain sight,
no trace of them did rather careful
search reveal. And now began
series Of amusing antics on the part of
that devoted parent that must be seen
to be appreciated. Around and around
the stanch dog she ambled and wad-
died. feathers distorted, and Quacking
for all the world like dusky duck in
the cleaning of the autumn evening as
he fcarlessly prepares to alight on his
fayorite feeding-ground.
After several minutes thus consumed
in completing the circles, of which the
sorely tempted canine was the interest
ing centre, finding all her wiles fail to
move him other than an agonizing twist
of his head upon its axis, she suddenly
changed tactics, and, with ruiiied plu-
mage and open bill, boldly charged the
intruder, until but few inches at most
separated her from the jaws which
there is some reason to believe may be
her future tomb. Patience was evil
IDENTIFY ceasing to he virtue on the poor
brute's part, and fearing dire results to
that little family Of innocentS in case OF a
sudden half Orphaning, asserted my
share in the tragedy by stepping slightly
in advance. AS the delighted mother led
me step by step away from danger, it
was with a peculiar satisfaction |
almost fancied | could see in her big,
expressive eyes the relief it furnished
her. Over the hill, back to the road,
and hundred yards down the same,
she gently drew us. and when with an
utterly exhausted flap she appeared to
alight for the last time, | was not less
SuTpIISSu IMAM IlSdSSu W SdONu
glimpse of her, completely restored as
if by a miracle, whirling over the
dense cedars and tall timber on a hill
top until she reappeared by long cir
cult close to the original spot where !
first surprised her.
Retracing my steps, there she was
sure enough, going through the same old
game as before. Calling off the dis
gusted dog with much difficulty, | left
her there and continued my walk-he
full Of regrets, doubtless, at what he
regarded as an exceedingly unsatislac-
tory termination to so much trouble,
and his master, with murder most
foul and most unnatural" in his
heart to marvel at the mysterious
working Of mans heart, which, while
moved to pity and admiration at a
mothers love, can at the selfsame mo-
ment resolve on the subsequent COM
plete humiliation Of not only that
me her, but "all her pretty chickens,
too, at one fell swoop." Verify, how
sll-consuming must be that passion for
the chase which warps our sympa-
thies, which knows no right but the
law of might.