The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-04-05
THE WORK OF BIRDS.
HAWKS ACT As RAT AND
SQUIRREL TRAPS.
Farmer Resolved Haustead Of Iikiaud.
wsn-Knoun for Truth aud rrobity.
Tells Remarkable story -yermin
overran the Neighborhood.

solved X. llallstcad, Of Elkland town
shin, Pa. saw large white breasted
hawk dart into n sashlcss window near
the peak Of wagon barn that he had
finished building few days before.
II stayed for a spell then came out
with a rat In each claw. and the In
torcsted farmer watched Il ell II mot
another hawk In mid.air. Tho two
clrclcd and undulatcd eide by side for
spoil, when the one with the rats
resumed H. flight toward tho forest.
The other hawk Immediately pointed
for the barn. shot through the win
dow. fitted out "a few seconds later
with a struggling rat In each talon.
and sailed on In the same direction.
Mr. Hallstead started 10 tell his wife
about what he had seen. whom the
hawks. or n pair exactly like them,
few into the barn window and came
out shortly with thoir claws full Of
squcallng rats. There was no grain
or hay In the now barn ana tho farmer
wondered where all the rats came
from. H. was also In a quanlary as
10 how the Gcrco forest birds knew
whoro 20 lind the rats under n roof
On going into the upper part Of tho
barn Mr. llallsioad saw scores Of rats
scamporlng around on the floor. says
tho Chicago Times, and tho mystery
Of their presence was solved. Two
nights before, day or 40 after the
barn was completed. tho young poo.
iilc Of the township had ball on the
upper door. Tho iocund rustlcs
brought pcck- Of popcorn 10 the
party. and between tho dances they
sat on rough wooden benches and
munchcd II with their partners. Whom
tho ball broke up lots Of tho popcorn
was left, and the rural mcrrymakors
throw II NJ one another till the floor
was covered. The rats In the other
barns soon got scent Of the fragrant
popcorn. and swarmod into tho now
building after a.; hut how the hawks
ascortaincd that tho rats wore thcro
In large numbers mono Of the smart
local naturallsts were able 10 toll.
MIR. llallstead's dog pitched into the
-four. footed corncators and the force
rats pouncod upon him, bit his nose
and cars TIL the blood ran, and sont
him yelping down the stairs. The
farmer went at the rats with n shovel.
and they ran up his clothing and
forced him 10 clear out They bit him
on the ears aud neck before no could
shake Thorn on and he decided 20 lot
thom alone. At dusk that night no
saw two owls fiirt through the window
and sail out with four rats. Tho
hawks continued 10 dart into tho barn
several times a day, and they always
stored for the woods with thcir claws
full Whom tho uscful birds Of prey
ceased 70 come not rat was 10 DC
seen In inc barn athough u lot OF mo
popcorn sull remained on the noor'
A barn belonging TO Edgar Putnam
OF sugar Loaf hill burned ana tho
next day AN army OF rats Hooked into
Mr. futnams house ana attacked tho
bapy IN thn cradle Mrs futnAm was
working In tho buttery' ana the
cries OF the infant were 80 different
irom what thoy gonorally wore tha'
she rushed TO u IN great mast" She
found rats climbing ana pushing one
ahoihor nll over mo cradle n tame
non haWN hAihed plek was dolng ms
bost 10 protect mo nany py catching
the rats right ana lon' giving caeh .
squeeze ana thon dropping H. Mrs
Putnam soiNod nor llilio one and
started Tor the next room Ih'
ravonous rndenis chung 70 her skirts
ana the hawk pulled 'hom on and
plhoheu them Ih,ally' wording a.
hough nc Know that inc INFANT wa
In danger DICK happod ana hoppo'
ami hung the rats AROUND until Mrs
futnam got Out OF the room wltnon
any OF them onnging 10 her clothing
INC helpless nttlo ohli1 was oAul!
ol'ton ON 'lo iaoo anu hahiS' am
AIRS rutnam eh'u ai'1r"aru Una, lh'
hioodthirs'y rats Won'u surely nave
hlled tho nany u 'ho Wat'h'u' haWN
had not SAllou lhto thom almost a
soon US iheY swarmol into mo mouse
when Mrs PUTNAM returned To IN
room pi'k was sun N"''hg rats ahV
nc uldh let UP uh'il moro 'hah 'h'rt
lay dead ON inc moor
a par OF roi squirrels TOOK VI
tholr abode IA EraSlns felkerS rosl
donoe on ilo@saht siroan' Az ume
they made n great racket over IN