Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-05-17
THE BIRD OF DEATH.
A Curious Specimen OF Natural History
Found in Now Guinea.

Rev. R NJ. Masterson, who has just
returned from Now Guinea, whcro he
has been for the last seven years as mis-
slonary from that city, in recent con-
versation with a Philadelphia Times
correspondent, told of most remarkS bio
bird he had seen in that country. Tho
bird, which is called by tho natives tho
rpir n'doob, meaning the bird Of death,
produces by its bito q madness ending IL
death. They arc very rare, and aro fast
disappearing as the country becomes:
moro civilized.
MIR. Masterson had no opportunity Of
personally observing the effects of its
bite, but was credibly informed that tho
victim is almost instantly seized with
violent pains in the member bitten,
which pains soon spread over tho cntiro
body, but are especially excruciating in
the bowels. Loss of sight follows and
rush Of blood to tho head. Tho limbs
quivcr convulsivefy, and whito, often
sive froth breaks out of the mouth. A
sort OF frenzy takes possession Of the
sufferer, in which no shrieks and bowls,
occasionally laughing uproariously, and
capering to his own chanting or singing,
until his strength is exhausted and he
sinks to the ground, when no becomes
unconscious and rigid in overy limb,
with his teeth firmly locked as in to-
tanus.
Mr.. MaSterson describes the rpir rs
small and about the size of tho common
pigeon, but of a slcndorcr, longer build,
and of peculiar gray plumago lacking
entirely tho glossy appearance of feath-
ers. Its tail is extraordinarily long and
runs to sharp point, ending in blood
red tip. No other color is to be seen
when it is not in flight, bat the EXTEND
ed wings show bright yellow beneath,
sometimes varied with an intense luster-
less black. Its bill is very powerful,
though thin and long, and is perfectly
straight, except at tho end, where it
curves sharply with an abrupt dip. The
feet are coal black and resemble somo-
what those of tho African parrot, but
have very sharp nails curving almost
into fish-hooks.
This singular bird is to be found only
on tho rcedy shores of tho low-lying
lakes of Now Guinea, which arc often
only immense stagnant ponds or
marshes. The eggs arc laid in the Shiny,
moist earth close to the waters edge,
and arc most beautifully variogated, be-
ing of rich crimson, dappled with blue.
gold and white, but arc worry small and
perfectly round. Tho malo of tho rpir
n'doob has no note, but tho hon, which
is considerably the larger of tho two,
gives peculiar, long-drawn cry, which
has a piercing, melancholy sound, and
which is repeated at short intervals.
Tho rpir being worry awkward and
capable of only short flights of two
or three yards, can be caught without
difficulty, but is lot severely alono by
tho Papuans. who say that no ono has
evor survived Its, blte, there being no
antidotc, and death always ensuing
within an hour or two, whom tho body
shortly turns purple and becomes much
swollen, decomposition speedily sot-
ting in.
MIR. Masterson succeeded in SHARING
ono OF tho birds ana connnca IL In O
cage, intending to bring it homo as o
curiosity, but it pincd away in captivity,
literally starving itself to death, as it
refused to partako of any food whatso-
over: UnacquaiRtcd himself with the
art Of taxidermy, tho missionary found
no ono in that country capable Of pre-
serving 1t for him, so no was forced to-
throw away tho specimen.
Mr.. Mastorson regrets that his knowl--
cdgo OF natural history was SO slight as
to forbid Of his learning in what tho
birds, venom lies, but gives as his
opinion that its bill is hollow and
charged with. tho deadly poison. This
poison seems given more1y as o means
OF dofonsc. for as nearly as tho gcntle-
man could tell from his limited oppor-
tunitios Of observing it tho bird is
herbivorous, feodin9 on tho tender
young shoots of tho reeds and flags.