Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-20

leeches from the crocodiles jaws. A species
of gnat also makes its home at times in
and among the crocodile's tongue and teeth.
and the plover finds this insect a good aru-
Gle of diet.
Going Like the Dodo.
Few Americans ever saw the ivory-billed
wcodpecker alive. Fewer will see it. ac-
cording to all accounts. Like the dodo. that
disappeared all of a sudden in the fifteenth
century. this splendid specimen OF his class
Is likely soon to become extinct. In Audi
bon's time 1t was common in Virginia along
the coast and was observed as far north as
Cincinnati and as far west as Kansas. Now
1t is sometimes seen in the southern part of
North Carolina near the coast, at Vicks-
burg and along the gulf coast to the Brazos
river in Texas. The progress Of civilixa-
ton seems to create conditions wholly in
compatible with his existence. The swamps
of the south afford the best home he has
yet found. but 1t will not be long before he
will disappear from these haunts. The
Smithsonian specimens show a bird twenty
inches long, beautifully black, with violet
reflections, the head bearing crest OF
long slender feathers, which he can elevate
or depress, and in the male rich carmine
in color. On each side OF the neck Is q
long stripe Of white. The bill Is ivory white.
The Indians used to regard the oills as
charms, and made necklaces and belts OF
them. Now they are scarcer than buffalo
robes.
Two cases of birds that were at the
worlds fair will always be sought out oy
lovers of beauty in color. These are the
groups of humming birds and birds OF para
disc. The former are shown in every con-
ceivable color and in great variety OF Shapes
and sizes. They are all natives OF the west
ern hemisphere. Thus 1t was eminently ap-
Columbian fair. Before the time Of Column
bus no European had seen such q oiro.
1t is the most brilliant Of all birds In plum
age, and its habits are more those OF IN
sects than birds. No bird spends SO mucn
of its existence on the wing. Its anatomy
shows that all its muscles are developed
for flight, while no human eye has yet seen
humming bird walking. Indeed. It seems
to have no use whatever for Its tiny legs
and claws but to cling for an instant 70
the petals Of some flower. In captivity they
will poise for hours in the same spot, their
wings all the time moving at velocity IN
visible, but sufficient to sustain them In
midair. In flight they resemble the DRAGON
fly. Their tongue consists Of two tubes
with which, like some insects. to draw In
honey. Insects form the greater part OF
their food. The young. 1t Is said. ny swift
as the mother bird. without practice, at the
flower humming birds. like bees. serve to
transfer pollen from one plant to another.
These stuffed specimens at the Smithsonian
cannot convey an adequate idea Of the bril-
perfect examples Of the taxidermist's art
The fact is that motion Is indispensable
to show the brilliancy Of their splendid
coloring. The iridescent, changeable quail
Of the living bird produces . new flashing
change Of color.
Artists and decorators are fond Of hum
ming birds and buy them in large collec-
tons In order to study their celebration and
adapt from 1t new shades and combinations
in their handicraft. Nothing can be more
beautiful than the velvet black. emerald
green and ruby red to be seen on these birds
Some have two brilliant spots of color in
close juxtaposition, but one Of which can
be seen on the stuffed specimen, while II It
were alive and moving in the sunlight both
colors and their combinations would be WIS.,
ible.
Paradise Birds.
The ordinary observer is a good deal
shocked when he looks at the paradise birds
at the Smithsonian and is told they are
crows. This may not be the precise truth.
but the typical bird Of paradise has been
found to be SO closely allied to the crow
and oriole family that 1t is difficult to es-
tablish them a distinct family. LAtera-
ture is full Of myths about this bird It was
said their home was the bright expanse of
the sky, where they slept. nested and had
their young; that they only came to earth
when they died; their food was dew drunk
in midair; and having no use for legs and
feet they really had none. The bird was
first found on Magellan's expedition, and his
bird man, Antonio Pigafetta, distinctly stat
ed that the paradise bird had legs, but the
natives of New Zealand cut them of from
the specimens they preserved and bartered
Nevertheless, a score of naturalists stated
that the bird really had no legs, and the
great Linnaeus, in naming the emerald
bird Of paradise. called II paradisea apoda
or footless. a name that sticks to II to this
day. Whole libraries have been written
about these wonderful Birds the glory of
whose plumage transcends that Of all 9TH
ers except the humming birds. Maroon
brown, velvet black, emerald green. citron
white. purpled red. reddish yellow, pure
white. reddish maroon-all these colors and
shades are found in a single specimen. This
is. of course. the male. The female is, as
usual in the bird world. less gifted In
beauty.
The emerald bird Is about as large as a
blue jay. 1t Is a migratory bird and pos
sesses much intelligence. The natives climb
the teak trees where II roosts and shoot II
in the night with arrows. The beautiful
long plumes are used for head decorations
for the chiefs. In captivity the paradise
bird is an amusing creature. full Of queer
habits and knowing tricks. like his cousin,
the crow.
These beautiful pictures Of bird life repre-
sent years of research and study and re-
fleet great credit upon Prof. Ridgway ana
his associates. They are a constant source
of pleasure to those who visit the Smithson-
Ian, whether they are collectors. students