The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-01
SOME SPRING BIRD STORIES,
which show that some Things Can He
Done as Well rs others. ir Not Better.


Done as Well ms Others, iC Not better.
ODDLY MIXED FAMILY RELATIONS.
BA1LEY's, Pa, May 31.-As long as any one
can remember. the high, rocky hills west OF
this place have been favorite nesting places
every spring for hawks. Nenturosome boys
annually amuse themselves by hunting hawks
nests among the almost inaccessible heights,
and robbing them of their eggs. One day this
spring Alva Reynodss boy, Jack. brought
homo four of these eggs. and In u spirit OF mis-
chief set them under duck that was aching
to hatch out something. Tho eggs respopdo
to the warm touch OF the incubatng duck. and
In due time four hawklnGs, with heads out Of
all proportion to their bodies, and with great
hooked bills that gave ilerceness to
the helpless fiedglings that was comical.
made their existence known to their duck
mother. The old ducks amazement when she
first saw the result OF hcr patient
occupancy OF the nest is said to have been in
tensely amusing. For moment she gazed at
tho four callow birds OF prey. which greeted
her with extended necks and fierce beaks
opened rs If to rend her to pieces. and then
waddlod away as fast as she could TO distance
OF two or three yards, mutterinG strangely to
herself In duck language. Then she stopped
and for minute or so looked back in silence
at the queer brood she had brought into the
world Then she gave utterance TO loud and
elongated quack, an exclamation which Farm
or Reynolds declares was. from the manner
and attitude of the duck an unmistakable
equivalent for the comprehensive remark
good excuse and reason would undoubtedly
have said II she could have talked. After re-
lieving herself after this fashion the Old duck
continued TO gaze in wonder on the four en-
tended necks and gaping mouths of her new
family. Two or three m nutes passed.. and then
she seemed to hGys 4bs rrb na she
mother to take toward her children, and she
waddled back toward the nest but with hesi-
tating and falterlng stops. She went to the
nest walked around 1t, mutteriug to herself, and
evidently trying to arrive at some conclusion
she hqd ees fpe beorS
but Immediately on their appearance they had
crawled or tumbled out OF the nest and fol;
and launched their downy barks OF life. rs 1t
were. without moments delay. But here this
big headed nestful was afrayed with wide
open mouths against her, and she was puzzled.
In making her inspection Of the nest the duck.
with tho probable intention OF trying TO induce
her edelings t9 come out ana Ha 70 along with
bsak on the bill. The duck backed away;
it's its II hold do on op'' the duel s Bin VIVA" Was
broken and the duck escaped. Farmer. Rey;
the performance, quickly replaced the helpless
young hawk IN the nest and had his reward in
SRe 5 sezed ~ he f sviTy
Gus nestful. and knowing that the hawks
must have something to eat or they would soon
die Of starvation. and knowing the nature Of
the bird. he cut up some tender meat. and play
Ing the part Of maternal hawk. fed the gaping
beaks OF the heGGglinE hawks ha, until the birds
near the nest again since her experience with
the brood, but she stood at asate distance and
said a word until he had finished and the birds
gone to sleep. Then she gave utterance ' to nor
highly expressive quack. and waddled in re-
Elective manner to the pond and swan absent
mlndedly about.
But the maternal instincts Of the old duck
were strong. and several times during the dav
she went back to within few feet OF the nest
able to get any consolation. When it came
evening. though. she got on the nest but with
show, OF much misgiving. and kent the brood
Of hawks under her protecting wing for the
night. When Farmer Reynolds went out next
morning he found the, duck standing again at
a safe distance from the nest. gazing as before
in amazement at the hawks. which were agli0
in wide heaked array ready to devour some
thing. The farmer had their breakfast with
rior dog. one OF the family pets The dog was
somewhat startled at the sight of the fierce
looking birds. but he watched tn the feeding op;
GRAFTON with great interest. Tho duck stood
th9 hawks had been led and had sui;
went on to the pond in disgust But But
the scene had made an indeliblc Impression
on the dog, and he was found several times
gazing intently at the young hawks. When
the dogs dinner was given him that day he
was seen to take piece Of meat il his mouth
was. He was followed and discovered Ia the
act OF handing, the meat over to ono OF the
HAWKS. whose bill was open ready to receive 1t.
Il he old duck laDneNpu to be Drp9nDt n fha
time, and she looked on in cold silence. The dog.
having disposed OF his piece OF meat went back
by this time the Old duck had apparently
made up her mind that -he: having been ro-
Sp13SlGIe FOR bringing nat SSmiiy into the
manner Of their bringing NJ. While the dog was
gone to the house. presumably after another
nest. She seized ono Of tho hawks by the back
81 the neck; and. dragging II out Of tho most,
started with 1t for the pond as fast as she ouId
AWAY. and by the time the dog had come back
with third piece OF meat the duck had plung-
ed In tHe pond taking the helpless n hawk with
The nest, or whether ho saw IT in the ducks
possession. cannot be known; but he no sooner
and rushed to the pond. The duck had swum
out yard or so and droppod the hawk on tho
water, where II lay RaspinG and teebly kicking.
hawk, took II in his mouth swan ashore. and
carried it to the nest. The result OF this deter
IlluullOn on the part Of tllo DUCK luol ner OIL
;pring must swim and its hastY rescue by tho
log. was tragic. The hawk was dead when the
log brought 1t back The old duck made a
great fuss over this Interference with her
authority. but she was OHerruled, and the
hree rom aiming hawklingS were taken from
Ter control and. II they are still alive are being
ed daily by the Intelligent dog.
THE BLUE JAYS AND THE HORSE
LANCASTER. May 2i.-Along one side OF a
leld on the Meyers farm there Is n thick
.rowth OF bushes. some OF which grow high
md strong. Many kinds oil small birds lind
his thicket most favorable for their nesting
places, and in the spring cattle ard horsos that
pasture in the field browse on tho sweet and
ender young foliage. The owner OF tho farm
urned In tho field TO pasture n few days ago n
lumber OF cattle, among them two bay horses.
The farmer wa5 working In the field not far
rom tho thickeI. when ho heard blue lays
making more noise than Is uSua! even with
hese noisy birds Looking NJ 10 see what the
rOuble might be. he saw four blue Iays en-
snged In fierce assault on ono Of tho hOrRo-
They were darling ~ hun from all sides peck
ng ut Eis lace. striking him In tho neck ana
'iles. and about the head, in manner that was
evidence enough That tho horse had oiiended
hem in some aggravated way. IN poor horse
AN first one way and then another to escape tho
uIy Of the excited birds. but he WAS headed
III whichever way he turned by the birds dash
ne Hereby in his face and nesailinE him with
leak and claw. Fearing that the sharp billed
md persistent JAYS would blind the horse, mo
armer hurried to his aid. Even after no ar
'ived on the scene AMI took the horse by tho
nunO and led him AWAY from the spnl thp In