Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-16
TALES TOLD OF BIRDS.
HIGH DEGREE OF INTELLIGENCE
AND PHYSICAL POWERS.

ANU PHYSICAL POW6HS-
Recreations That Show Cunning and Re-
fiectIon-Dsiense Of the YOung-Per-
petuai Rejuvenescence-Powe OF VI
sIon-RspIdIty of Flight
The intelligence of birds must be rated
very high. They often take precautions
that show reflection and cunning, as when
crows set sentinels in high places before the
hOoG swOOps down upon a corn field have
even heard that in some places crows have
learned to count To the mum er of four and
ive-as many as some savages has been
able to cOunt-so that no ambush can be
aid from which to shoot at them unless
more men go into it than they can count,
and then a, many leave it as they are able
to numbsr, 80 that the poor creatures erron-
sOusly infer that none are left
Parrots and other talking birds often
show astonishing intelligence. or perhaps it
is only astonishing because do not
enough assume the intelligence in these won
ierful creatures Evidently their words
are not mere meaningless sounds, but q
vocabulary. though a small one. A friend
assures me that an intelligent parrot which
is a pet in her family understands the
OThcIs AltlIcsoel W IL, anu NOTus VI
proach or praise as perfectly as the more
intelligent dog, or rs any human being, in
deed within its limits. and that the bird
Knows the names Of every member OF the
amily and will in iuire after one who is alb
sent for a short tims, with every sign Of in
terest and even wish for the absentee's re-
turn
MENTAL As WELL AS HEART POWER
In defending their young birds show as
much mental power as heart power; as
when ths female Of the partridge, the grouse
and other birds which ne t on the ground
lutter along a. il lame or wounded, a little
advance OF the hunter, as a decOy but
s,udes every effort TO seize her until she has
snticed her enemy far enough from hef
Young who meantime have concealed them
selves; then she shoots into the air and 70
turns to hsr brood by a circuitous ronna
Kites, cIows an other birds have been OBJ
,erved to drop food into their nests from q
height overhead which they could not
safely approach In domestic emery ancifs
birds show, also, great caring. Sometimes,
indeed, courage, and even boldness, seems
to be a prevailing trait, often with the
smallest and most delicate of birds Hum
ming birds, with -ruifed feathers and fiery
eyes" will attack even men whe approach
uostE Iuci hcolS anu VIII EuSn ~ my
bird, however large, who comes too close
Birds are cheerful, joyful, and even gay
reatures. There are some exceptions Most
birds are sociabls, living in fiocks or compa-
nies, and these are tue bright and chserful
kinds Usually the sal or serious are given
to solitude, tut solitary birds living in pairs
alone are not common. Birl have a very
short childhood and proPortionrtsly long
youth, and often a very long life. Some
times with eagles, they gradually i'm
prove for many years, before they
reach the perfection of their pa
rents, after which they will complete
a century Of life But however ssed q
bird, in a manner it rensws its youth every
year by molting- This is q perpetual reju-
yenesce in appearance. 50 that To the last
year Of life no old age Obtrudes in the plu-
mage Of bird in health, no wrinkles and
loss OF complexion, as it were, for the glossy
garment is made every year as fresh as
new.
THEIR POWERS OF SIGHT AND FLIGHT.
Among the privileges Of birds must be
:anged their extraordinary sight. The
Kite which scars TO 50 amazing a height as
to totally vanish from our sight, can yet
distinguish small lizards, field mice and
birds, and from his lofty station he selects
DIS ". ne QUICK NhTIdbtOus VI INC
birds eye are as remarkable as its far, keen
5ision. For the bird will fiy like lightning
through thick copses OF interlacing bOughs,
which it could not do without being torn
o pieces II its eyes varied for distances as
sluggishly as our OWE Hearing also
seems to be very acute. Slight noises alarm
birds, and they will answer quickly to
notes Of rival birls, when the singer Is out
of their sight and beyond our bearing
Birds sleep very lightly; a faint vibration
will arouse them They dream, as may bs
observed Of birds in cages Their perfect
balance of themselves while asleep, often on
one leg maintained by constant and slight
motions like little fallings and recoverings,
is wonderful Those that sleep on the water
never drift ashore, which shows, perhaps,
that they move their feet unconsciously Just
enough to countsract wind or current
All these are natures plans for q magical
power OF motion surprising imagination
What speed, too A swallow will tiy q mile
a minute for ten hours-six hundred miles
in a day. Some birds actually live on the
wing, eating drinking, catching material;
never resting but in darkness The prodigious
rapidity Of some birds falling flight dshes
our power to conceive the sensation The os-
Prey" says Wilson, from sublime aerial
heights descends like q perpendicular tor
rent plunges into the SEA with loud, rush
ing sound and with the certainty Of a rifle"
and again he says; The white headed
eagle when it has made a hawk drop fish,
posing himself for a moment as il to take
more certain aim, des,ends like whirlwind
and snatches the fish in its grasp ere it
reaches the water" Birds are equally as
home in the water. Witness the petrels,
that saan actuaIly tn RIM about the Wayss
They are the sou Of those buried at sea,
the sailor says and, indeed" says Brehm,
they look like spirits to every one else, 50
ghost ike are their movements across the
surge Chicago Herald