The San Francisco call., 1896-03-01
Paragraphs for the Curious.


Thirty-nine of the fiity-six men who
signed the Declaration OF Independence
were college graduates.
Between the years 1860 and 1882 more
than 5000, 900 bison (buffalo) were killed
within the limits of the United States.
The great breakwater at Plymouth, Eng
land, contains exactly the same quantity
of stone as the great pyramid-3,S ,S00,o 900
tons.
The latest (S95) statistics show that
there are 252, 745 blind persons in the
United States and Europe, or about eighty
one per 100000 inhabitants.
The Scotch have the heaviest average
brain weight-ffty ounces. The Eskimos
Of East Greenland have the lIghtest-439
ounces.
The water pail'' forge is a new mode
of heating iron to a white heat in water
that has been subjected to electrical ac-
ton.
DR.. Elliot Coues, the discoverer of the
''true source of the Mississippi" says that
it is branch inches across and 2
| inches deep.
The naked arc light is one of the most
| deadly enemies of bacteria, and on that
account is being largely used in hospitals.
In Mexico they have plant called the
/ "herb OF prophecy" One who eats of it is
said to ever after be able to predict coming
| events.
Atlantic sea water contains only eighty
one pounds OF salt to the ton; that from
| the Dead Sea 1S7 pounds to the ton.
The oak provides home and food for 500
! species OF insects and occasional lodg-
ings" for about $50 others.
NJ. Pouchet, an eminent French biolo-
gist, gives 1t as his opinion that the very
lowest forms of life are not subject to
ha
A Bird Shepherd.
The natives of Venezuela and ad Joining
| countries on the north side of the river
Amazon often avail themselves of the
services of a native crane to care for their
poultry, and also, in the place OF collies or
shepherd dogs, used by North Americans
and Europeans to guard and herd their
/ domestic animals. This remarkable bird.
which the Indians call yak-a- mix and or
nithologists Psophia crepitans, is found in
a wild state in the great forests that lie
between the northern coasts of South
America and the Amazon River, particu-
larly in Venezuela and British Guiana
The birds never leave the forests unless
i shot or captured. They travel about
in flocks of from one to two hundred,
in search of the berries, fruits and insects
upon which they subsist.
Their usual gait is a slow and stately
march, but they enliven themselves from
time to time by leaping up into the air,
executing eccentric and fantastic waltZes
and striking the most absurd and prepos-
terous attitudes. If pursued they en-
| deayor to save themselves by running, for
their flight is so weak, according to Schom-
burgh, that when they attempt to flg over
a body of water OF any considerable width
they are often obliged to drop upon it and
save themselves by swimming. When
alarmed they utter the peculiar cry which
has obtained for them their name of
trumpeters. The sound is something like
that produced by person endeavoring to
shout the syllabies tow, tow, COW; Tow,
tow, with his mouth shut, or the doleful
noise made by children on New Years
with their trumpets. The yakam iks
usually deposit their eggs in slight hol-
low in the ground, often at the foot OF
tree.
The yakamiks are very readily tanned,
and prove valuable servants to the In
dians, who domesticate them, as they are
very courageous, and will protect animals
intrusted to their care at every risk to
themselves. Even dogs are Obliged to
yield TO their authority. They may be
! trusted with the care of a flock Of sheen or
domestic fowls, and every morning will
drive the ducks and poultry to their feed
ing places, and, carefully collecting any
stragglers, bring them safely home at
night. A yakamik soon learns to know
and to obey the voice of its master, follows
him when permitted wherever he goes,
and appears delighted at receiving his
casesses. 1t repines at his absence and
welcomes his return, and is extremely
jealous of any rival. Should any dog or
cat approach it flies at it with the utmost
fury, and, attacking ii with wings and
! beak, drives it away
1t presents itself regularly during meals,
from which it chases all domestic animals,
and even the negroes who wait on the
table, if it is not well acquitted with them,
and only asks for share OF the eatable