Telegram-herald., 1890-07-13
CURIOUS BIRD STORIES.
How Partridge Was Killed by a
Railroad Train
A Sparrow Ia = Thunder storm Excite
meat Caused IA /. Church oy = Night
-TrienashiP betsssa
Rooster sad . Dog.

ho0stsr s1O . boss
A few days since, writes the Norwich
tConn. correspondent Of the New York
Sun, partridge that Was eleasing the
air in swift flight across break IN the
forest along the Air Line Railway, in
Windham County, performed an odd
trick on an express train that was ex-
tremely unfortunate for the bird. The
four p. ID. express train was a trihe late
coming into Pomfret village, and was
running az lightning speed, when the
partridge essayed 20 cross over the track
in front Of the locomotive Both the
bird and rushing engine were following
the legs OF an acute triangle 70 its apex
on the railroad line, but the partridge
underestimsted the speed Of the train,
which reached the apex second in ad-
vance. The heavy bird struck the ex-
press car, in which Sam Dikeman. ex-
pressman. was sorting over freight. and
went through window in the side door
with the momentum Of solid shot. SO
swiftly il sped IL cut a clean circular
hole in the large window pane as evenly
as II the instantaneous job had boen
done with a diamond. Splinters OF
glass fell in jingling shower the
whole length of the car, and as Sam
Strengthened himself from his work in
dumb amazement the bird fell dead at
his feet, mass of feathers and broken
bones. Sam had broiled partridge for
supper that evening, and to save himself
the expense OF the broken window he
made oath before the railroad superin-
tendent that the wild bird, not he, was
the author of the mischief.
In the memorable thunder-storms last
week, while the whole armament
seemed TO be shot through increasingly
with zigzag lances of lightning, many
timid little birds sought refuge from the
frightful uproar wherever a shelter Of
fered itself. On one dark afternoon the
telegraph operators rsttling away az tho
keys in the Western Union Office in New
Haven suddenly heard rustling over
head, and glancing about saw sparrow,
which, having come in through the open
window, was swiftly skimming about the
high-ceiled room. Then came a great
crash of thunder, jarring heavily under
the foundations of the building, and the
little bird with frightened peep" ffut-
tered down on the sounder at w. j.
Shechan's desk. Mr.. Sheehan picked
up the sparrow and held it in his hand
until the fury OF the tempest had some
what abated, then took 1t to the window
and released 1t. But the bird would not
60 out into the storm, and after hesitat-
ing on the window ledge for an instant
returned to the operator, climbing on his
shoulder and nesting against his face.
Finally he threw the sparrow far out Of
doors and hastily shut tho window, but
it came back and peckcd at the window
panes.
On another evening a big night hawk
few into the German Lutheran Church
in New Haven while Prof. j. +. Whit
tecker, of Rochester, was lecturing on
"The Follies and Foibles Of Modern
Life" and for fifteen minutes excite
ment reigned. A night hawk Is blum
dering creature in its flight, and as the
wide-winged bird darted back and forth
in the sanctuary in great sweeps and
circles just above the audience, its spot
ted pinions cleaning specter-like as IL
hummed through the air, women
screamed and darted about the pewS, and
finally tho lecturer had to stop talking
for fifteen minutes. Every one was
afraid of the bird, for as it SKINNED
along the gallery front and shot among
the heads of the people, once passing so
close to the face of Prof. Whittecker it
fairly took the words of his text out of
his mouth. it won't with the speed of a
rocket, and il seemed it must go slam
bang into somebody or something in its
dizzy turns. Once a wise man shouted:
Catch that bird!' and the profound adj
vice set tho congregation to laughing.
Finally the hawk, in random dash. ac-
cidentally secuted through a window.
and then the lecture went on again.
At Rockville rooster and dog have
become fast friends For a week the
bird had been boset by a fierce cock,
both being members Of the same flock,
and the two roosters fought almost con-
stantly not Par from the dogs kennel.
Finally, the weaker bird, sick and
friendless, having been completely
knocked out In tne ring, ued into tho
dogs kennel TO escape its bloodthirsty
foe, and, dropping in the straw, made
eloquent signs, as II asking protection
and shelter. Carlo undoubtedly had
watched the combat between the birds
with an intelligent and sympathetio
eye, for not only did be permit the
wounded rooster 70 tarry in his house.
but when the other bird attempted TO
enter the kennel to glut its fury further
he arose threateningly, growled. and
Just looked at the vindictivc pursuer
once, and that bird evidently made up
It's mind that the time for discretion
had come. He went away sulienly.
Since then the wounded rooster has
dwelt with tho dog. and the two in
mates Of tho kennel seem % be warmly
attached % each other. II any rooster
challenges 70 mortal combat are for
vsrded to bis friend the dog attends TO
them promptly. so the other barn-yar1
fowls have concluded that il won't DO at
al 70 monkey any more with the roos-
ter that lives IN kennel.
Ho~ to Eat Water Melon.