The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-08-23

| ~o'"' "AO'' W his INTENSE
astonishment the mimic suddenly
happed its wings and took to flight
Ihe landrail has been known to simu-
late death in a similar manner. and
under the closest examination il
showed not the slightest sign of life.
The pretense was continued until some
time after it had been slowed away in
the captor's pocket, when, with a sud-
den effort, 1t escaped from its prison
and flew away as if nothing had hap
| pened.
Not only are certain individuals OF
the feathered tribes true mimics, but
1t Is possible, nay probable, that some
few are ventriloquists. Mr.. Rige
Withers tells us that during his wan
derings in the forests of Brazil he dis.
covered a bird-ventriIoquis which has
peculiar shrieking cry as loud as a
peacock's, and which is known as the
Bell-bird. He thus writes about it:
''lt is seldom seen in its wild state, be.
ing, like the musical frog, a ventrilo.
quist of very high powers, and sun
loving bird, frequenter of the highest
tree-tops, where its snow-white plum
age and transparent wings render it
almost invisible even when in mo-
tion." From description of this
birds performances in confinement, 1t
appears that its notes were heard In
every quarter OF the small village,
and seemed at times to come from tho
mountains at the back of the village,
fully a quarter OF mile away.
Mr.. Bowdler Sharpe tells us that
one day in early spring, when in a
wood near Mongeron, France, his ear
was arrested by a loud and not un-
musical cry like that of titmouse
As the sound appeared to be close to
where he was standing, he searche d
all the trees in the immediate
neighborhood, but could find no bird
of the tit family. At length, however,
he discovered tt at the notes were pro.
duced by creeper which was busily
engaged in search of insect-food on
tree some ten yards away. The cry
he states, was ventriloquial, sometime,
appearing to be uttered close at hand
and sometimes at a distance.
Whether or not the corncrake is
gifted with the power of ventriloquy,
we do not know, but we well remember
how frequently in our bird-nesting
days We were deluded by this bird.
Steadily making our way along som,
hcdge-side, we would be suddenly
startled by the "Crake, crake' of the
landrail, seemingly close at hand.
With "cautious steps and slow" VIC
would make our way through the long
grass toward the spot whence the
sound proceeded, when, as though the
bird were gifted with the power Of in.
visible flight, it would be transported
to a spot some hundred yards away.
Toward this we would cautiousl,
proceed; but just when we ap-
peared to be within few feet,
a rustic, without a blade O.
grass stirring, and apparently without
n pause, the monotonous ''Crake
crake" would be heard at a still far.
ther distance. As we think of it now,
we can distinctly recall the "haunted"
feeling we experienced as we stood ir
the meadow Git was evening" listening
10 the landrail's notes, which seemed
10 swell and die away almost to an
echo, as does peal Of bells on a fitfui
breeze, and we are strongly inclined t. |
.hink that the cause of the sound ap
oearing to emanate from SO many |
points almost at the same time is du,,
o ventriloquial power with which
he bird is probably endowed. The |
warbler and the ring.
'usel possess similar powers, which
ire, doubtless, means OF protection
o them, being used to lure away the
intruder from their nests Chicago
Journal.