Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-03-24
QUEER BIRDS.
An Interesting Exhibit at the
Worlds Fair.
Serieslo lof Groups Prepared by
the National Museum.

One OF IhCmost picturesque features
of the exhibit Of the National Museum
of the worlds fair in Chicago will be
a series Of groups of odd sorts Of
birds. These have been prepared by
DR.. Robert Rdgway.
The crocodile bird, for example, is
illustrated ~ an actual crocodile about
eight feet long, stuffed in a life-like
manner, with its moath wide open,
while along lie back arc walking two
or three birds of this curious species.
One of tie atcris standing inside the
mouth of the saurian, peckmg para
sites from lhe reptiles tongue. This |
is the kindly office which the bird per-
forms for the crocodile, at the same
time procuring food for itself aud
relieving its reptllian friend Of annoy
ance. So far as naturalists are aware,
the latter never returns this kindness
with the ingrsiilude of gobbllng Its
bencfactors
Another group shows pair OF
bower birds disporting themselves
about their play house. Purely for
the sake Of amusement these quaint
feathcred creatures are accustomed to
build covered structures of iwigs aud
other materials, in and about which
they scatter every bright and pretty
object they can find, such as Shells
Furthermore, they hang garlands OF
flowers in front of their play houses
and, when these are faded, they pro-
cure fresh ones. 1t is even said thal
they plant seeds, which sprout ana
add 10 the decorative effect.
Not less remarkable than the bower
birds are the butcher birds-a small
shrike that is widely distributed III
this country. These birds capture
small animals of various sorts and de
libsralely impale them upon ihorns
presumably for Subsequently G
food. In parts of the y 9
athcre ate barbed-wirannrrt Igrpl /
ID wire u-hts inste Ihhl l'hN"'s ;
- ii lea lsts4IIe kinds -
Fsrtiliz ng MzTef- Fl
~ Factory Ierust Point, {
Ybush, wi. 2grassb ti"y Sifeet;
little bird stuck on ta!s''n'''' u. ~
there. ing .i,orad " m,a !
One of the most intercsliie4ss9il =
exhibits pair of woodpeckers Of
interesting species. They are engag'
in inserting acorns into holes in
tree trunk. In summer, when fo,
Is plentiful, these birds devote the
time to making great number
holes in the bark of trees. When 4
acorns fall in the autumn they gath
them and put one into each of Il
holes they have made. Thus III,
provide themselves with a supply
provender for the winter. Otherwis
when snOw covers the ground, tn,
would be likely TO starvc.
Other groups show a number
prairie chickens engaged in their lov
making dance, flamingoes with the
curious nests of mud, hollow stun
with parroquets hanging inside
their bills, which is their manner
roosting, and wild pigeons, which a
interesting because they are threG
ened with extinction.
One group that was prepared f
Chicago will not be sent there becau
it is too horrible. 1t represents t
sheep-eating parrot of New Zealal
attacking sheep. This bird was II
originally carniverous. but is suppos
to have acquired a taste for mutt,
during a very cold winter, when, +
lack of other food, it assailed the ca
casses of killed sheep. Subsequent
it took to preying upon the live al
mails, clinging to their wool and act
ally eating its way through the tle
to the kidneys, of the tat surroundi
which it is especially fond. The pc
sheep, unable to defend itself agail
its winged foe or TO escape, eventua
succumbs. Fortunately, this parl
has been nearly extcrminated in NJ
Zealand by the sheep farmers.
Washington Star.