The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-09
HAP TALKS.
what the Haphsmmsr Has TO Say to our
BOYS and Girls

Dear Hapryhammers: You have all rear
In the papers or heard your mammals and
papas talking about tho present Vene-
zuelan boundary s'spute. Perhaps 700
didn't take much interest in the subject.
but nevertheless some Of you were led
10 look up your Biographies 10 and out
exactly where this country ia located. You
necdn', bother your young minds about
the cause Of all the wraneiing and quar-
reling over this South American territory.
but II you read about Venezuela you will
discover that there nre many birds. ami
mails and trees in this lltile republic thar
are worthy OF study. The birds In par
ticular are extremely beautiful IN plum
age. graceful in form AMI have most Of
them voices OF great sweetness. Many
are singers OF wonderful compass and
possess notes as voluble and eyer-varying
as our club pet, the mocking bird.
ons bird that Is PERHAPS entitled 10
the place Of the most striking vocal artist
Is the bellbrd. Strange IN other ways BE-
sides his voice he Is. too Hts spotless
white coat. his tall black horn or eres,
that rises Just back OF the bill, and 1T.
fond olnginE 20 The ground except when
frightened into flight makes him dls,in-
guished. The horn is only erected when
he is excited or calling at twilight.
Piercing and loud. but sweet and fun MS
the deep notes Il harp. hts vibrant calls
ring out over the silent woods Wen may
the astonished hunter look about him for
signs Of clearing and mission chapel
IT Is iust al sunset that these campaneros
lbeilbirds) ring out their gentle tones. The
different birds seem TO possess voices of
varying depth. and the distances, long and
short serve 10 nodulate and harmonlze
them all For three or four miles YOU ran
hear the faint responsive rings. like
echoes Of the h9uder ones hard by. The
great moras and ceibas stretch heaven.
ward. and meeting overhead form grand
arches OF green that roof IN the moss
tuftod aisles OF natures cathedral. The
traveller notes these, instinctively dofYing
his cap as the choir OF sweet-singing jupu.
bas and grosbeeks and Spanish warbiers
break out into a vast. dcep-swelling vesner
hymn. and over ard through II all, like
the chimes OF some solemn monastery. fan
the silver d!Pg-dongl dlngl ding dongl of
lon campaneros
Last week the Haphammer told YOU
something about the weaver birds OF AZ.
RIGA. These birds. II IL said. make very
cunning. though inischieyous. pets. Lay
ard, the naturalist. kept number OF
the birds In large cage for some time
They became very tame and would an
swer very readily to the call. when
they were supplied with cotton or thread
they would weave II most industriously
into the bars OF the cage forming a dense
mass. impossible to unravel. They per.
form their work entirely with their bills
ciingng the while TO the side OF the cage
with their powerful claws. Mr. Layard's
birds showed their Intelligence by un.
fastening the bolts OF the cage door with
their deft bills and escaping. Yet SO at.
tached were they TO each other that they
never left the room, although the win.
dows. on each occasion. were Wide open.
The bee-eaters are another singular
rttrlbe of birds including quite a number
lizof species, which inhabit South Africa
I'd he carmine-throated bee eater is among
'enlye most gorgeous OF tropical birds. Their
,ighbpearance In fiocks is almost dazzling.
,ctrinst Of the body and tall texcept the Tin
Now the latter. which IL green is of a
hat theiful carmine. shading TO pink on
sss Of oder parts, while the plumage imme.
EAR, milef about the eye Is black and the tor
nd are head is green. The two long