New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-03
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAILS
HE INSTINCT OF BIRDS.

TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Observing communications in your paper on
the intelligence Of birds. let me record an expert
ence in Virginia in 1866. With my wife and children
7 pad a visit to her home-an ancestral estate da'-
ing back to the seventeenth century-where the
negroes OF all ages In their effusive but sincere
manner welcomed their young and matroniy ms
tress Among various curious treac-.snx brought 70
the "frs, born son was. of all things white OWL
whose daylight stare was unblinking as that OF
his Young master What 10 do with the bird we
questioned. and my wife's brother and myself put
him on the arrow vane summer house. so
called In the house grounds. which embraced sew
eral acres The trees attached TO these grounds
were of all varieties and by their spacious separa-
ton had attained enormous size. sheterng many
kinds OF birds. and IL was an unwrtten law that
only game birds shot that estate. OF Soma
$500 acres shooting only being done I'm the he'ds.
We had also at opposite ends OF the lawn. martin
boxes nesting thirty-two families of these quarrel
some fighting. pretty birds. never see the piacK
martin In this section. mores the pity. for they
would keep the sparrows under. fancy they can
not live so far north However, the owls presence
was soon perceived and the birds. forgetting race
enmites In the presence of a common foe, eau
crssed I'm the trees and line OF action was taken
These birds embraced three varieties OF woodpecN-
ers the martins. Baltimore orioles. robins. meadow
larks and others. and we watched their actioh'
Leading off by files and slngy. they flew down upon
over his bad in their fight plucked his head bare
of feathers in less than hour. 1t was their only
means of attack, and skilfully conducted
Here was an uncommon evidence OF Instinct, IN
nv opinion as the birds could not-no birds ever
see in the dark-know the owl as an agent in the
despoiling of their nests and the destruction OF
their young Yet there was common instinct
telling of the presence of enemy. whom they
punished in their way.
We afterward took the owl into the fields and'
tying him to a tree. made crow-calls of distress
summonng these birds from the distant woods VINO
soon saw the OWL and despite our presence circien
within gunshot till wearied OF killing them.
Here was a second instance of instinct. The crow
will not allow u man on foot to approach WITHIN
getting a shot here and there. but on foot never.
Yet we were foot. shot and killed them ana tne
presence their preda tory enemy was an influence
superior TO their dread OF man. to chain them 10
that spot The owl, minus his head feathers WAS
released at nghtfall. a.,
There are birds which see and move only in the
dark These mainly OF the predatory character,
as owls bats, nght-hawks in their various species,
etc: whip poor-wills and nightingaes when are
moi predatory but with rare exceptions all plIds,
including chickens. ducks, geese, and All the Drus
which give beauty to the country life through their
songs and varegated plumage are defenceless atte,
dark which Is one cause of their easy capture anu
destruction 1t IL this singular defect In VISION II
II NAV be go called, which caused so great a de-
strction among the birds during the late storm al
st0rms bv day when. aided by vision. they found
shelter Sghtess at night an they couIu nS vas
BROOKLYN Aug. %. 1885,