The record-union., 1891-03-23

helpless bird was instantly fallen upon
by its own companions and rapidly torn
to pieces to satisfy their voracious APP
petites.
A PREHISTORIC SKELETON.
In the museum of Christchurch, New
Zealand, there is on exhibition the re-
markable skeleton ofa bird known as the
moa, which was Indigenous in that coun-
try, but is believed to have been extinct
2,OUo years. Even the traditions of the
natives fail to give us any account
OF this gigantic bird while it lived,
though their own tribal existence
is traced back for hundreds of years. The
head OF the skeleton stands sixteen feet
from the ground, and its various proper
uons are such as to harmoniZe with the
extraordinary hight. This bird must
have been six feet taller when standing
erect than the average cameleopard. Its
bones are still found in various parts of
the country, and especially in caves,
where they have been protected from the
disintegrating forces of the weather.
The moa skeleton at Christchurch
formS the greatest archaeological
wonder in the world What Niagara is
to ordinary waterfalls, the moa was to the
bird tribe. 1t belonged to the Titans who
dwelt upon the earth perhaps in the days
OF the mastodon and the dodo. The ex-
trayagances of Baron Munchausen and
Jules Verne can hardly exceed the fact of
the moa'S existence. 1t was long time
before lncredulouS naturalists could be
induced to admit of the existence of such
a bird upon the earth at any period, but
the writer has seen and measured this
skeleton in the museum of the thriving
New Zealand city referred to, while SCI
entlsts have lately made voyages from
Europe solely to examine and report upon
TINS marvellous object, which so Yiyidly
recalls prehistoric times.
MEXICAN JACK-RABBITs.
The attention of the traveller through
Mexico is often challenged by the abund-
ance of the wild jack-rabbits which over
spread the dreary plains, living among
the iow-growing mesquite bushes and
the various species of cactus. These
sprlghtly little animals are called Jack
rabbits because their tall, straight ears
resemble those of the jackass. Their al
most incredible numbers begin to make
them pest. and in their hunger they de-
your every green product of the soil. In
New Zealand and Australia where rab-
DTS We're introduced from England only
few years since, they have so multiplied
as to prove devastating plague, so that
Inc government offers a bounty for their
obstruction. People kill them with guns;
they club them to death by hundreds; they
poison them by the thousands: but still,
like rats and mice, they increase daily.
poems of Mexico seem too lazy to hunt
or trap the jack-rabbit, though they often
go without meat for weeks together, while
TINS little animal might prove a very pal
atable food supply. Between Torreon
junction and the mountain city Zacate-
cas-, on the Mexican Central Railway, the
passengers often see myriads of the little
creatures peeping from behind the bushes,
mile after mile. There must be millions
OF them on these far-reaching, dreary
plains. At early twilight one often sees
a large hawk swoop from above with
hghtnlng-hlle rapidity and fly away with
young rabbit, which it will drop from a
great hight, and thus kill before Begin
ming to devour the carcass. One creature
preys upon another throughout all ami
NAL life.
IN TROPICAL FOREST.
The forests of the luxuriant island of
Ceylon are remembered with special
pleasure, though the usual tropical pests
are not wanting there. Beetles, dragon
flies, cockchafers, locusts, centipedes,
vicious spiders and yoraciouS mosquitoes
abound. Here the curious home of the
sailor bird, which sews leaves together
and builds dainty nest inside of them,
was seen; also the self-constructed home
of the weaver bird, with an entrance tube
over two feet in length. The peacock was
here found wild, the male bird in all his
wealth of mottled splendor. Storks,
ibuseS, and herOns few over the lagoons,
and the cooling of the gentle wood pigeon
reached the ear in the quiet moments.
While some large and brilliant flowers
bloomed on trees, others very sweet and
lovely caught the eye among the prolific
underground. In the distance was heard
the trumpeting now and again of the wild
elephants, who kept a long way from hui
man habitations in the day time, but occa-
sionally raid the rice plantations in
the night, being especially fond of this
article IN its green condition. One moves
watchfully in the jungle and steps with
care, lest he should rouse some poisonous
snake and suffer from it's dangerous
fangs. Vivid colors flash before the eyes,
caused by the brilliant plumage of the
feathered tribe among the oyerhanging
branches, while occasionally the Keen
voice of the Ceylon thrush rings upon the
ear like the startled scream of a young
child. The jungles, and, indeed all out
doors on this beautiful island seemed
like conservatory of exotic birds, tropi-
cal plants and flowers, where in the still
moments the leaves tremble and vibrate
like the strings of an Eolian harp, and
the atmosphere is heavy with the fra
GRANGE of blossoms tended only the hand
of nature.
Speaking of birds and tropical forests,
the writer recalls having seen remark
able instance of bird instinct, in the in
stance of the so-called bower bird of Aus
tralia. This peculiar little creature builds
playhouse, as it were, a tiny shady
bower, which it ornaments with the
bright feathers of other birds, besides the
yellow blossoms of the waffle tree, adding
dainty ferns here and there. In this
ngeniously-devised sylvan retreat the
feathered architect holds sort of
carnival, to which others of his tribe re-
sort. Herein, when dozen, more or
less. are assembled, they join in bird
concert, strutting about together in
most demonstratiye and ludicrous man
ner.-CLeUetand Leader.