Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-11-26
ACCIDENTS TO BIRDS.
Singular Misfortunes Which Be-
fall the Little Creatures
Heron Clicked by . Fish That Was
Too Largo to Swallow-A Bird Hung
by n Hair In Colts

Many strange accidents have oc-
Cured to birds while feeding. An Irish
naturalist once observed a dunlin be-
having very curiously on the scashore.
The bird rose in the air and flew for
short distance, then alighted and shook
its head violently in vain endeavor to
detach round lump observable upon
its bill. The encumbrance proved to
be cookie which the dunlin had found
open, and, in innocently attempting to
negotiate, had been trapped by it. This
kind of bivalve accomplishment no less
than an authority than Mr.. Tegemier
declares to be not Mt all uncommon on
our shores. A Whitstable cookie recent
ly bore testimony to the veteran
naturalist's assertion by capturing
green linnet by one of it's toes.
\ poor little chafIinch was found dead
in the neighborhood of Epson a short
time ago with it's lower mandible firmly
imbeded in the shell of a beechnut
that had become SO inextricably fxed
that the bird had died of starvation.
a hen pheasant was not long since OBJ
served by II sportsman flying round and
round in the most unaccountable fash.
ion, and on being shot was discovered
to have a large oak leaf impaled upon its
leak SO as to completely obscure its
vision.
Herons sometimes choke themselves
Icy attempting to swallow large trout,
how large may he judged to some ex-
tent from the fact that recently dis
sected bird OF this species in whose
nav was a large water rat in Il perfect
state of preservation. An elder duck
has been killed through attempting to
swallow a toad, and bullhead or mill
er's-thumb" has proved too much for
water rail, little grebe, and king
fisher. A member Of the last named
species was discovered n season or two
back in Cambridgeshire ditch by some
sportsmen unable to fly except for a
short distance, and upon being caught
and examined it was found that the
bird had young pike protruding from
| it's gullet. AS soon as the fish. which
measured no less than Az inches, wal
removed, the kingfsher flew away ap
parently none the worse for its expert
/ ence.
Birds that employhair in the building
| of their nests sometimes come to erie
by hanging. but I should say very sci
dom indeed in the following manner
| \ gentleman who had a number of colt
upon his farm one day noticed IL SINAI
bird entangled in the long hair of thu
tail of one of them. The little creatur'
had evidently been in search of lnateria
wherewith to line its nest. nnd by SOM
unaccountable accident had become en-
shared in the unkempt hair of the colt
tail. Cases of birds getting their fee
cntangled in bits of yarn or string ar
not uncommon, especially in the breed
ing season. and whenever the victim O
this kind of mishap happens to get tn
impeachment fastened in a tree or anon
stones, death is pretty sure to be the r.
suit unless prompt human aid is forth
coming. In the spring of the year,
everybody knows, the dead leaves G
pampas grass fall to the ground an
curl up like the shavings from cal
penter's bench. A Field correspondent
mentions finding poor robin whic
had accidentally got one of these piece
coiled around its neck 80 tightly this
it was unable to feed, and died OF stary'
ton.
Booth describes a very peculiar q
cident to a kingfisher, thus: "Whi
snipe shooting one winter round Hicl
| ling Broad, in Norfolk, noticed SON
small object splashing in the water
/ the side of the dixie, and on proceedin
| to the spot discovered an unfortuna
/, kingfisher that had come to grief IN
/ rather singular manner. The bird hi
evidently at some former time bee
struck by a shot which had passt
through the upper mandiDle. In
wound was quite healed up, but sma
piece of the horny substance OF the bes
had been splintered, and into the Graf
produced by the fracture two or thr
of the fine fibres which form part OF Il
flowers or seeds of the reed were
firmly fixed that the bird was held fas
It must have been flying up the dill
and brushing too closely to the rec
that grow on the banks, to have be-
caught in the manner described.
Cornhill Magazine.
4