Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-01-08
SOME STRANGE ANIMALS.
THEY ARE CURiOSiTIES WELL
WORTH SEEING.
A Unique Austr allan Bird-The Laughing Jack.
sss-Eiying F0xes-PecuIiar Animals
and Bird, Of Ccylon and Thier
uabtts--A Paradise.

was in tho bird market Of Sidney.
Australia. where one was offered for
sale confined in huge wicker cage.
but the sarcastic notes of this ludi-
crous bird were often heard afterward
in its wild state singing through the
jungle. It is ono of the most curious
creatures tho traveller meets in his
wanderings Mischievous, sly, droll.
aud without particle OF shyness.
what bird it is! Its plumage is white
aud black. presenting very little tail.
but 1t is provided with a large, gawky
head. wcll-rounded body. and is
about the size of our domestic pigeon.
The eyes are very large and gaze bold
ly at the observer as If to pierce him
through and through. This bird
laughs almost like human boing.
with sort OF bird malice added. and
though his notes are harsh. his merri-
men: Is extremely ludicrous and even
contagious. One not only laughs at
but with him. His rafting articula-
ton forms a tumult OF laughter. He
iis al intelligent rs a mino bird or
parrot. and can DO taught to articulate
words like them, and. we are sorry to
say. takes most aptly to profane Ian
guagc. The laughing jackass is OF
the kinglshor family OF birds, but de-
s.ives its food supply mostly from small
snakes. These he scizes just back OF
tho head. and flying high in mir drops
them upon stony ground. which breaks
the delicate spine. after which he
quietly devours them peice-meal. and
as he thus performs what is considered
al important service. he enjoys entire
Immunity from trap and gun in Aus
tralfa.
The flying fox is most peculiar
animal, not unlike n mammoth bat
Ono sees them in surprising numbers
iin different parts OF India especially
on moonlight nights. The flying fox
Is unable to take fight from the
ground. by means of its sharp claws,
however. it rapidly climbs a tree.
from the branches OF which it throws
itself into the air and skins about by
expanding thin membrane which
opens beneath its limbs. 1t directs its
course through the atmosphere with
great precision without any vibratory
motion. During tho day time these
animals retro to the seclusion OF the
forest, coming forth Mt night with the
bats and owls. They sleep hanging
head down ward from the branches, to
: which they adhere by the natural
/. hook attached to the points OF their
shoulders. Ono also sees in India the
flying opOssum. which ''shoots" across
considerable spaces at high elevation
by expanding thin membrane at
tached to either side OF its body. and
which connects the fore and hind legs.
This fateful. bird OF nautical romance
+, is not very generally distributed on
I the ocean. The writer mas seen them
in fioclss of score or moro on the
! borders OF the Arctic circle. on the
voyage from Tasmania to Southern
New Zealand. The popularity Of the
Night OF tho albatross IS obvious Ia
the most casual observer. 1t scarcely
ever plies its wings in Migratory
manner. but sails upon the wind In
any direction it chooses. though what
mysterious power propels 1t, with OF
against the wind. who can sayP Il
for a moment the bird partially alights
/, upon the water to seize some object o,
] prey there is a triaing exertion evident
in rising again until few feet II
/. height is attained. whom all visible Of
!, fort ceases. The albatross is armed
with tremendous beak from six Il
eight inches long, ending in q sharl
poiuted hook OF great hardness ant
strength. the most terrible weapon at
tached to any OF the feathered tribe
The average bird of this species meas
ures three feet in length OF body. Will
the spread OF wing from tip to tip !
ten feet. aud often eleven feet. Th
web feet expanded are seven inche
across. In color the albatrOss is slat
white. Ermine itself is not white
shxu the breast OF this bird. whic
Lives ia the air and bathes constant
in the sea.
The forests OF tho luxuriant islam
eof Ceylon are remembered with specia
pleasure. though the usual tropica
pests are not wanting there. Beetles
dragon aies. cockchafers. lOcusts. cen
Sipeces, vicious spiders and voraciou
mosquitoes abound. Hero the curiou
s,on.e of the tailOr-bird. which sew
Yeares together and builds daint
nest inside OF them. was seen. also tn
self-constructed home OF the weaver
bird. With an entrance tube over tw
feet In length. The peacock was her
fo,Snd w1d. the male bird in all II
wealth Of mottled splendor. Stork
fShnsI,a and hcrOns How over tho lagoon