Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-12-15
BIRDS AS JUDGES.
singular Spectacics Witnessed in England
and s,.,t.

! and switzerland.
Key. DIR. j.. Edmund Cox has riven
the particulars of a trial by rock
which he witnessed between fiftv and
'lSty years ago. He was riding alone
u quiet road in the vicinity of Nor
wlch' England, when he was startled
by sounds OF an extraordinary commo-
tlon among the inhabitants of an adj
Iacent rockery, Securing his horse 70
= gate, he cautiously crawled for a
hundred leet Or so, to "a gap in the
hedge OF Il grass field, to investigate
proceedings. a trial by jury was
seemingly going on. The criminal
rook at iirst a%ppeared very perky and
!auhty' although encircled by about
'or,y or fifty of an evidently indignant
SABLE fraternity, and assailed by the
necessarily vehement cawinp of an
outer ring, consisting of many hun. |
dredS, each ana all showing even
greater indignation than vas mani
rested by the more select number
Even the scouts, although hoyerinp
ABOUT IN all directions. were so doeplv
absorbed in the proceeding that thew
lalied 10 notice their unlimited specta.
'or' Alter a short time the manner NJ
'he was seen suddenly and
completely to change; his head bowed.
ms wings dropped, and he cowed
ialntly' as if imploring mercy. The
inner circle closed in upon him and
pecked nm to pieces in few minutes.
leaving nothing but z mangled carcass
Inc whole assembly then set M n fro.
mehdouS screaming and dispersed.
seeking the adjacent rookerv.
ou' me greater number fvino ,
away across the ields. II ;s ,
commonly known that rocks are nd, :
iicted to pilfering, ana that If tbe .
Is detected the offender is mrs I;
lsheo' 1t has been noticed that vounc .
looks will often pilfer twigs and o,ho, .
'seiul materials from The nests of ,boi. !
'iders, with which to build their own !,
lomlclles quickly, and. although ,bov y
re too cunning to be caught in ,ha !,
only committing their thofts WHOM :,
,otn the owners Of the nest are absen, n,
ROBBERY seems always TO be known n,
'hen the crime has been discovoroa II
nd proved eight or len rocks are NV y.
arently depnted to act on behalf of al
whole community; they proceed n 4,
ne convicts nestand In a few momon,o i.
after it TO the winds. :.
Al Alpine tourist relates that d~ur;n. ~
l excursion In the Swiss m~ountains its
p accidentally came upon n sm.,Il ~,
glen, Which was s~urroundaa ~,
Trees andsbecame the unexpected i,
l'ness OF a singular spectacle. About, wo
Sty or seventy ravens were r,pooa no
a ring about one Of their fellows IN,
identity reppted q oulprit, and with tin
zen c%satter OF tongues and vino hre
re engaged in discussing his ALLEGED tba
~lnquencies. At intervals tbe,, nh
Used in order TO permit the accused !,
reply, which he did most yocifer. ;ny
Wy and with inteuss energy; but all J. +,
representations were speadn, hos
'wned in a ~deafening chorus Of dis. fro,
b. Eventually the court appears a. he !
e arrived at the unanimous c~oncluY IN a
! that the afelon had utterly fniloa roo,
aculpaie himself and they suddenly lion,
AZ MIN fror, all sides and lore him
pieces with their powerful beaks ~.
my executed their sentence. thew lstocl
oily disappeared. AFopuiarSciencs fdisct