The morning times., 1896-04-19
Smart ~
Fcathcrcd
az Spies.

copyrighted, 1896, by c. F HolderJ
The California mocking bird is a very in
telIigent fellow, and is sometimes Of ma
terial service to other animals In follow
ing the hare with hounds, have heard a
series of sbrieks from a mocking bird, at
which hare would dart from it's conceal
nlent and bound way; and so often has this
occurred that it would appear as though
the mockng. brigbt-eyed creature was
friendly sentinel on guard who bad thus
given the hare warning.
In driving through one Of the lower
counties OF sOutber California. ! oReeI
came to field OF strbble in which there
were forty or fifty black pigs on the back
OF each OF which there were one or two
blackbirds. The latter espied ME innls-
diately and uttered an alarm or warning
at which the pigs looked up and then ran
away. some still carrying their senttnels
on their back. Such an exhibition might
easily be considered accidental but have
seen it repeated on several occasions; and
that certain birds do warn various animals
which they affect there can be little doubt.
A familiar example is seen in our moose,
which allows various birds to run over IL,
in all probability in search of insects. Thu
hunter stealing upon the animal may find
il asleep in some out-ofthe way nook; but
the watchfuI Jay is on guard, and altering
!tsnote ofalarm, the moose responds, springs
to it's feet and rushes away, leaving the
hunter far behind, amazed at his lack Of
skill, and little suspecting that Canada Jay
had, to all intents and purposes, whispered
words OF warming in the long ear OF the flying
moose
That this animal submits TO the attention
of the jay is well known, the bird having
been observed running over its tOdy with the
greatest freedom
In Central America especially in Nicara
qua, q singular bird, called Quiscalus, Is
very assiduOus in its attention TO wild cat
tie, taking it's place on their backs and ele-
waiting and depressing the long neck and tail
in a remarkable ma nDer, giving the impress
sion that il Is a poseur. But does an enemy
approach, the black, grotesque creature
Immediately Utters discOrdaHt shrieks that
have an Immediate effect upon the cattle,
who toss up their heads and rush into the
bush.
In Africa this guardianship between
birds and oxen is so we'll established that
certain birds are universally known as
OK x-biters; and so vigilauL are they In
game animals that they are an important
consideration TO the hunter in the chase
One OF the best known or these feath-
cred guardians is the Ted-beaked Ox-biter,
Buphagus erythrOrhyncus, gamy little
fellow not larger than the robin, with
a deep-red beak and eyes that sparkle
with a golden CLEAN. Wherever Wild
cattle, large antelopes, the camel, rhinoce-
rOs OF elephant are found there will the
guardians be seen, perching on their
backs or running over them with an
aUdaciJy that Is amazing On the camel
the Ox-biter will run up the wOoIly neck
Ike wOOdpeCker, perch upon the ear OF
the patient animal AMI examine it fntently,
while Others cling to various parts OF tbs
creature. perhaps half asleep.
So waJChful are these sharpeyed birds
that at the first suggestion OF an en-
emy's approach the birds rise from the
backs of the herd, utteFing loud and dis
cOrddnt cries, which are Interpreted at
once If they should shout ''Ruu for
vOur lives'H the alarm wouIt not be better
understood, as at the first war ming
note the huge animals rush blndIy into
the bush, leaving the sportsman mOrti-
fled at his seem ing lack or skill in stalking
big game.
So skiIIfuI are these birds in discovering
an enemy that they constitute an important
feature in the calculations OF the hunter
or sportsman in the dark continent. One
species Is called the rhinoCerOS-bird on
account of its partiality To the rhinOCerOs;
numbers being seen cliuging TO the hide
of the big animal or perching upon its ears
and horns.
Drummond, the well-knOwn naturalist,
found il extremely difficult to deceive these
watchful guardians. On one occasion he
had stalked a ca pc buffaloaud a water ante
lope for hours. never exposing himself,
knowing that the birds were on guard.
bes reached SifIIa rfon favOra
TO a shot, when an eagle-eyed bird uttered
sound like tcha-tcha, and the entire
flock rose into the air with loud cries. at
which the OK and antelope dashed into
cover.
The sluggish hippopOtanlus and the ele-
phant often serve as perch for small
white heron, which Is extremely watch
ful, rising at the slightest alarm, the flap
ping of their wings being the signal at
which the animal steals quietly away, to
be rejoned. in all probability, by the white
sentinels.