, 1886-08-28
rHE,BrRD AND THE CAVE.
A Most Curious PotrifArtfon, n 1t
Singular AbIdinG Place.


A Most Curious Petriflction, and 1t
Singular Abiding Place.
A gentleman on the eastern bound pas
senser yesterday morning. had 10 his pos
SESSION. curious pstrifsction. DC 1t was I
bird complete In form, feathers sad all. g
This geological rdru dpis the ppossessol
obtsined while visiting the Hualipi In.
dams, whose country is within sound Of
the roar Of the waters of the GraAd Canon
Of the Colorado river. N,wssIsoand in q
hill cave, and was solidly eh,beddsd in a
rock wall. The labor OF several days was
necessary, with chissel and mallet to OBJ
tain tho singular specimen
This stone bird is evidently a. memento
Of an o~nitholosical species long since ex-
tinct. In size and shape it closely re-
sembles the modern canary. In color it
Is q bright scarlet on the body. with
golden wings. head, and tail feathers.
These hast are very luxufiant, being heavy,
long and glossy. The bill is almost
straight, long, and evidently adapted for
close and efficient search among the
crevices Of the rocks for insect, food. AS
a matter Of course no evidence is appar-
ent OF any singing qualities, though as the
gentleman who owned it very reasonably
remarked, ITS head was slightly turned
to one side, with a jaunty. self satisfied
expression, euch-as the modern r canary
affects when he thinks he ahase made a
masieaften strike"
1t rs most worthy of note that the hues
Of the stone plunage are as bright and
VIVID as when their wearer was, rinstinot
with Joyous life, and his red and gold
shot through the obscurity of a long past
age.
Even among the traditions ofithe Hu.
alipi Indians nothing could be found
in the most remote degree
referring to this curious bird, and these
Indians occupied their present lands long
before the un'iring feat Of the Jesuits
bore the Catholic cross and the, Spanish
rule to the shores of America.
The cave itself in which the petrifac-
ton was found offered many curious things
for inspection. 1t was a funnel shaped
cavity, with the small end turned out
ward, and bore no small resemblance in
general shape to the mud house of
the swallow. Through the neck
like entrance there ever came
from the interior, a signing wind of
considerable power and sound. The cause
of this wind, despite the most careful
search. was not revealed, and the Indians
say they have often searched likewise, but
always in vain. The Hualipi look upon
the cave with a great deal of superstitieus
reverence and have a tradition that the
cave Is one Of many similar ones, long ago
existing throughout the region, In which
the Great Spirit had established branches
ofhis main wind msnufactory. I'D. =
In the back part of the cave, on a broad
stone, apparently set in the wall, can be
indistinctlv traced figures Of birds and AMI.
mails, many of which seem to be utter
strangers at the present day. In the
northeast corner Of the mystic cave there
bulsss from the wall q stoneiinth the exact
shape of the ave itself, from the front
end Of which there issues a rude repre-
sentation of escaping wind. while just
overhead hovers another and larger rock
bearingsa deep black stsinr and apparently
intended to typify a heavycioud.
The gentleman owning the stone bird
intends to have it handsomely mounted.
AS a matter of course no -stufing will be
required).. He says he will never part
with it, and truly 1t is worthy of the most
careful preservation.