Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-06

naked down to ana including a part Of the
back. as II the bsud lad been trespassing
Cormorants, not altogether unlike crows
as to color but Of larger size, were ex-
amined. They have long necks and bills
like fish hooks. They1 are fine fishers, and
becoming most expert, in this line-the FISH
hne The ceiestiais put rings around the
necks of the birds, which prevents them
from swallowing the fish, after they have
worked hard and wish to enjoy the fruit of
their labors. Fruit pigeons and doves
are shown in several species.
Quite Up to Date.
One Of the most interesting specimens in
the whole collection is the ''lemiode." In
this the usual order of things as respects
the feathered tribe is just reversed. The
bird might be called the "woman's rights
disciple of the forest,'' for the female has
brighter colored plumage and is larger
II an the male. After the eggs have been
laid, the male Is forced to sit on them un-
til they hatch, while the newly emanci-
pated, up-to-date female bird goes GALL
wanting about the jungle, considering that
ner part OF the contract is finished. After
the eggs are Matched, the father takes
charge OF the young ones. and looks after
tfem until they are able to shift for them
selves, which is not long with these feath-
eIed folk, or furred folk, of the jungle
Trey are relater to the partridge family
put are mucn smaller.
Trojan" birds, about the size of Jay,
are noted for the ease with which their
orllnant plumage falls out. They have
spiotches of scarlet in their plumage
Bee eaters" in the collection have hooked
bills, shaped so they can catch the honey
gatherers with the poisonous sting without
Delng touched. They are found only in the
Malay peninsula, and have exceedingly
Drliliant plumage. Kingfishers are shown
In variety. AS with those here, the pre-
color
The coppersmth' bird of Kipling and
ms tales are included in the collection
Ihey are about the size of doves. They
have large bills with which they make
their Earring, unmelodious, boiler-yard
sounds. Their heads look as if they had
peen dipped In paint pots, or the colors
daubted on with a big brush. They have
enormous whiskers. which. in their I'M
the touch of clippers or razor The coarse
hairs In these stick out beyond the point
of the bills.
,., Ihere are large woodpeckers, something
thls country, with heads like hammers
and bills like chisels. The tails are of stiff
Iea'nefs, by which they prop themselves
on the trees as they peck away Some
are speckled, anC combine all shades.
Polka Dot Birds.
There is small specimen shown which
might be termed the polka dot bird, the
spots being out of all proportion to it's size.
Cuckoos with pretty plumage and long
tails can be seen, and love BIRDS" which
derive their name from the fact that they
are so inseparably together. They are
small, with paroquet-shaped bills, and bril-
liant green plumage.
In the collection are specimens of the
smallest hawks in the world. They are not
larger than English sparrows, and feed on
insects. There are many varieties among
the specimens of hawks. storks, snpe and
plover. ,r..
There are some extravagantly handsome
specimens of the famous argus pheasants,
which are found in Siam: the spread of
their wings. the size of the bird considered
Is truly wonderful, the plumage is of silken
hligree fineness, dotted with the eye-like
shapes. They We're appropriately named,
on account of these peculiar markings,
after Argus, the hundred eyed. They are
the finest specimens in the whole collec-
ton, which Is one to make even the cura-
tors of the Smithsonian, accustomed as
they are to rare and beautiful objects, open
their eyes with pride and satisfaction.