Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-05-05
SOMETHING ABOUT BIRDS.
Those That can Swim as Well as Fly.
The Curious Snake Bird.

Prof. Bickmore began his lecture al
the Natural History Museum with a
few woIds about feathers, which he ex.
planned, were divided into contour Oh
outline feathers and down or the fluffy
protective feathers. Without further
introduction he plunged into a des.
criptlon OF the more prominent birds of
the class selected for discussion, each
one of which was accurately reproduced
In Its natural cOlOrs by fine steIeopticon
views thrown upon the wall.
Oae of the rarest birds of which a
specimen Is kept at the museum is the
great aux, which is about the size Of a
goose, is found north of Cape Cod, and
Is noted for its thin, grooyed bill. These
birds were so plentiful In Nova Scotia
when the settlers first landed that they
were knocked over with sticks and
their breasts slit of to extract oil, but
1t Is most difficult now to obtain it. OF
the same general species is the putin,
large communities Of which are found
in the rocky places on the east coast of
Maine. The putin has a thin, razor
like bill, so thin that you hardly see it
at a front view, but which appears
enormous from the side.
Among the group of birds all of
whose toes are united by a w,b the
pelican is prominent. This genial
creature goes through the water scoop
ing into its large sack under the bill all
the fish which it can conveniently hold.
1t then rests until lunch time when it
itu oil nh
quantity of fish as it wishes to drop
down its throat. Then there is the
snake bird, which travels long distances
apparently under water all the way,
but which IN reality keeps the tip OF
one nostril Just above the surface. The
lite tropic bird, too, IS curiosity.
Until lately his home was never known
and he was supposed to live and die a
wayfarer. But in reality the troplc
bird has very comfortable quarters in
the salt rock cliffs in Bermuda, where
the female deposits each year enc egg.
The troplc bird has two long tail
feathers. which are many times the
length Of his body, and he is credited
with particularly sharp and discOr-
dant cry. Like the gulIs and Mother
Carey's chickens. the troplc birds are
met with at sea and follow vessels,
waiting for something to pick up.
These birds never appear to rest, as
they are generally on the wing, but
they do in reality, rest. Another bird OF
this sort is the albatross, whose great ex-
tent of wing enables 1t 10 put out sails
as it We're, and fy without apparent
effort.
The cormorant, greves, and morgan
sers are also sea-faring birds, living or
fish and exhaling very strong and un-
pleasant OdOr. The greveS have theil
toes lo5ed and separate, and the mer-
gansers have popularity of bill, there
being series Of projections which I'll
into each other and allow the bird tC
sift Its food.
The professor next described the wila
ducks and geese, the pursuit of which
is the delight of sportsMen. The eye
of the canvas-back duck Is very neal
the top Of its head, while the crest OF
the red-head makes it eye come about
In the middle of the head. The shel-
drake is a very gayly appareled duck,
and the Labrador duck, twenty-five
years ago so plenty, is now a rarer bird
than the great aux. The elder duck
has that beautiful down at her breast
which Is much sought after for quilts.
When the first quantity Of this is IN the
nest of the young 1t is stolen by natives,
the female detaches the down from her
breast to keep the young warm. This,
too, is stolen, and the male detaches
his, and after this protection is afforded
the ducks try law,