The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-19
THlEVING ANIMALS
Birds and Beasts That Steal From
One Another,

Thievery in nature is widely extended.
Whole classes OF animals prey on other
classes for food; whole families are para
stic and gradually weaken and destroy
those on which they feed
Huber relates an anecdote OF some hive
bees paying a visit to q nest OF humble
bees, placed In box not far from their
hive. In order to steal or beg the honey.
which places in a strong light the good
temper OF the latter, This happened in a
time OF scarcity. The hive-bees, after
pillaging. had taken almost entire posses
sion OF the nest. Some humble-bees.
which remained in spite OF this disaster,
went out to collect provisions and bring
ing home the surplus after they had sup
piled their own immediate necessities, the
hive-bees followed them. and did not quit
them until they had obtained the fruit OF
their labors.
They licked them, presented to them
their proboscis, surrounded them, and
thus at last persuaded them to part with
the contents OF their honey-bags. The
humble-bees did them no harm, and never
once showed their stings, so that il seems
to have been persuasion rather than force
that produced this singular instance OF
self-denial.
Birds, notwithstanding their attractive
ness In plumage and sweetness in song
are many OF them great thieves. When
nest-building, they will steal the feathers
out OF the nests OF other birds, and are
often much inclined to drive off other
birds from a feeding-ground even when
there Is abundance. This Is especially
true OF one OF our greatest favorites, the
robin red breast. who will peck and rur
after and drive away birds much bigger
than himself.
Very different az the robin and the
sparrow are in other things. they re-
semble each other in this. On an early
spring morning, when a little touch OF
frost still made the surface OF the earth
hard, / have seen a blackbir on a lawn
at last after great efforts extract a worm
and this was the signal for a crowd OF
sparrows, who, by dint OF number, man.
aged TO drive away the black bird and
carry of tho worm, TO feed their own
young ones, no doubt.
Readers OF Frank Buckland's most de.
lightful books will remember that moth
Ing pleased him more than TO observe the
different and delightful ways In which his
pets would thieve. He would sometimes
even tempt them to steal Just to SEQ how
clever they could be In doing it. He tells
one delicious story about his favorite
pet rat which he had. and which not un-
frequently terrified his visitors at break
fast
He had made a house for the pet rat
just by the side OF the man tel-piace, and
this was approached by a kind of ladder,
up WHICH the rat had to climb when he
had ventured down to the floor. Some
kinds of fish the rat particularly liked
and was sure TO come out IL the SAVIOR was
strong. One day Mr. Buckland turned his
back TO give the rat a chance o. sezing
the coveted morsel which he was not long
IN doing, and in running up his ladder
with it: but he had fixed it by the middle
of the back, and the door OF the entrance
was too narrow to admit of its being
drawn in thus.
But Mr.. Rat was equal to the emer-
gency. In moment he bethought him
self. laid the fish on the small platform
before the door. and then entering his
house. he put out his mouth, took the
fish by the nose. and then pulled il in and
made meal OF il. Never after this did
he attempt TO drag In such a morse car.
ried longways, though Mr.. Buckland
often tried him.
One OF the most remarkable instances
II carrying on career OF theft cane
under our own observation. A friend
northeast Essex had a very nice Abei
deenshire terrier, a female, and yer
affectionate relationship sprang up be.
tween this dog and "A tom-cat. The ca
followed the dog with the utmost fond.
ness, purring and running against 1t, anC
would come and call at the door for tho
dog TO come out. Attention was first
drawn TO the pair by this circumstance.
One evening we were visiting our friend
and heard the eat about the door calling
and some said TO our friend that the cal
was noisy. He wants little Dell" sale
hc--that being the dogs name; We looked
incrcdulous. well, you shall see," sale
he. and opening the door, he let the terrier
out.
At once the cat bounded toward her
fawned round her. and then. followed 10y
the dog, ran about the lawn. Some kit.
tens were brought to the house, and the
terrier got much attached TO them. ano
they 20 her. The tom-cat became
neglected and soon appeared TO feel IT.
BY and by, 20 the surprise OF every one
the tom somehow managed TO get. and &c
establish in the hedge OF the garden. tw,
kittens. fiery. splitting little things. au0
carried on no end OF depredations on theI,
account. Chickens went; the fur and re
mains of little rabbits, for which he per.
severingly hunted. were often found round
the nest, and pieces OF meat disappeared
from kitchen and larder.
Our friend could not find IL In his hear
TO shoot the tom; and this went on ioi
some time, when suddenly the cat disap
peared-had been shot In wood nearby
by gamekeeper, when hunting TO pro
vide for these wild little things, whIcl
were allowed to live In the hedge as they
kept down tho mice in the garden: bu,
first one was shot, and then another fol.
lowing their foster.parent's tasto ioI
hunting and killing rabbits and game IL
the woods.-Alexander II. Japp lin Cas-.
sells Magazine.