The state herald., 1891-01-02
SOME STRANGE ANIMALS.
THEY ARE cURIoslrIEs WELL
WORTH SEEING.
A Uaiqse Australian Dlrd-Ths LAsshiss ysek.
sss-f1ying Foxes-Peeulisr Animals
and Birds Of Csyloa and Thisr
Hablts-A Paradise.

SAFE connned In n huge wicker cage.
but the sarcastic notes Of this ludi-
crous bird wero oiton heard nfterward
In It's wild state singing through the
Jungle. 1t Is one OF the most curious
creatures tho traveller meets in his
wanderings. Mischievous, sly. droll.
and without q particle Of shyness.
what a bird 1t is! Its plumago Is white
and black. presenting very little tail.
but 1t is provided with large, gawky
head. q woll-rounded body. and is
about the size OF our domestic pigeon.
The eyes arc very large and gaze bold
ly at the observer US II to pierce him
through and through. This bird
laughs almost like human boing,
with n sort OF bird malice added. and
though his notes are harsh. his merrl-
ment is extremely ludlcrous and even
contagious. One not only laughs ut
but with him. His rattling nrtlcula.
tlon forms u tumult OF laughter. He
is rs intelligent as q mino bird or n
parrot and can no taught to articulate
words like them, and. we are sorry to
say, takes most aptly to profane Ian
guagc. Tho laughing jackass Is OF
the kingfishor family Of birds, but de-
rives It's food supply mostly from small
snakes. Those no scizes just back Of
the head, and flying high In mir drops
them upon stony ground, which breaks
tho delicate spine. after which he
quietly devours them peice-meal, and
as he thus performs what is considered
an important service. he enjoys entire
immunity from trap and gun in Aus
tralia.
The flying fox is most peculiar
animal. not unlike u mammoth bat.
Ono secs them In surprising numbers
In different parts OF India especially
on moonlight nights. The flying fox
is unable to take flight from tho
ground. BY means Of lis sharp claws,
however. 1t rapidly climbs tree,
from the branches Of which it throws
itself into tho air mud skins about by
expanding thin membrane which
opens beneath its limbs. II directs Its
course through tho atmosphere with
great precision without my vibrntory
motion. During the day time these
animals retro 10 the scclusion OF the
forest, coming forth Mt night with tho
bats and owls. They sleep hanging
head downward from the bran ches, to
which they adhere by the natural
hook attached to the points OF their
shoulders. Ono also secs In India the
flying opossum, which shoots" across
considerable spaces ut u high elevation
by expanding thin membrane at
tached to either side OF lis body, and
which connects the fore and hind legs.
This iateful bird OF nautical romance
is not very generally distributed on
the ocean. Tho writer mas seen them
In flocks OF score or moro on tho
borders OF the Arctic circle. on tho
voyage from Tasmania TO Southern
New Zealand. Tho peculiarly Of the
flight OF tho aibatross is obvious Ia
the most casual observer II scarcely
ever plies Its wings In n vibratory
manner. but snils upon tho wind 10
any direction 1t chooses. though what
mysterious power propels II. with or
against the wind. who can sayP II
for moment the bird partially nlights
upon tho water To seize some object or
prey there Is trifling excrtion evident
In rising again until n few feet In
height Is attained. when all visible ef-
fort ceases. The albatross Is armed
with tremendous beak from six to
eight inches long. ending in sharp
pointed hook OF great hardness and
strength. the most terrible weapon st-
tached to my OF tho ieatherod tribe.
The average bird OF this species meas
urcs three fee. In length OF body, while
tho spread OF wing from tip TO tip Ii
ten feet, and often eleven foot. The
web feet expanded are seven inches
ncross. In color the nlbatross Is slate
white. Erminc itself Is not whiter
than tho breast OF this bird. which
lives In tho mir and bathcs constantly
In tho sea.
Tho forests OF tho luxnriant island
Of Ccylon are remembered with special
pleasure. though tho usual tropical
pests AFRO not wanting there. Beetles.
dragon flies. cockchafcrs locusts. cen
tipedes. vicious spiders and voracious
mosquitoes abound. Hero the curious
homo OF tho tallor.bird. which sews
lcnvcs together md builds n dainty
nest inside OF thcm. was scon. also tho
solf-eonstructed homo OF tho weaver
bird, with an entrance tube over two
feet In length. Tho peacock was hero
found Wild. tho male bird In Nil Its
wealth OF notified splcndor Storlss.
buses and hcrons How over tho lngoons.
and tho cooling Of tho gontlo wood
pigeon reached tho oar In tho quiet
moments. While some large and bril-
liant flowers bloomrd on trees. others
very sweet and lovely caught the cyo
among tho prolific underground. In
tho distance wns hoard tho trtmpcting
now and ngain OF tho wild elephants
who kocpn long way from human hnbl.
taiion In tho daytime. but occasionally
raid the Rico plantations In tho night,
being especially fond OF this article In
It's green condition. Ono moves watch.
fully In the Jungle mud stops with caro-.
lost no should rouse some poisonous
snake aud suffer from Its dangerous