The times., 1899-02-15
SOME INTERESTING BrRps.
High Rank Given 10 the Crow Mt
the Smithsonian Institution.


A day at the Smithsonian Institution
will furnish a great deal of interesting in
formation regarding the feathered tribe.
For instance, the common cornpulling crow
is ranked among the first in intelligence,
il being said by naturalists that the crow
can be taught to talk more distinctly than
the parrot, and has a more humanlike
quality Of voice. It is denied. however
by the Smithsonian people that the split
ting of crows tongue will in any way
add to its powers of speech, this idea hav-
ing its origin among the negroes of the
South, who have always looked upon the
crow an evil bird.
The butcher bird, ' which is common to
northern latitudes in America, Europe and
Asia, is the most bloodthrsty and de-
prayed OF ali birds. 1t preys upon mice
and other small animals birds and insects,
always catching and impaling them on
thorns Of bushes in the hedges. and it
seems TO take delight in watching the death
of its victim.
With the butcher bird may be classed
the ,sheep-eating parrot New Zealand
bird, which has made great deal of trou-
bic for the sheep OF that country. For a
long time the herders We're puzzled by
finding their sheep dying from wounds on
their backs. During one unusually severe
winter most of the fruits and seeds which
were destroyed, and the birds were driven
10 seek other means of sustenance. Then
they would attack a flock of sheep and bite
out the flesh with their strong beaks,
choosing the fat portions near the kidneys
in New Zealand a good bounty is paid for
the birds and they are fast becoming eX-
tinct-
The pretty little honey bird of Africa
lives almost entirely on wild honey These
birds will watch the natives and accom-
pany them on their expeditions for honey.
The birds seeming to recognize by the
equipments of the natives when they are
starting out 10 hunt bee trees. The little
honey eaters will fly short distance in
advance of the hunting party, and upon
reaching a bee tree will make loud cries.
They will fly around and chirp while the
gum is being taken, and gOOdly portion
is always left by the hunters for the birds.
as they are OF great assistance in locating
bee trees.
Some birds. like all children like 10 play,
and Australia and New Guinea produce the
bower bird" which builds regular play
houses. These houses are not a part of
their nests, but are constructed usually in
the shape of covered archways of little
boughs, or 3 feet long, IS inches high,
and about as wide. They use these hOuses
simply for their games, as if they were
cIubhouses. Generally these playhouses
are decorated with bright-colored shells
and feathers Just as children decorate
their playhouses.
Another interesting bird is the weaver"
II seems TO be fond of making enormous
nests merely for the purpose of exercise in
the art of construction. Supply these birds
with strings and straw and they will use
them up rapidly. and their fabric is woven
with a perfectness that is astonishing.
In some countries it is the custom of the
hs-Ia rFg 1nrafy nd hfrSl1 hffr
flat-topped platform. or yards across,
which is so admirably put together as 10
shed the rain as well as any roof could
do. Under this roof they make individual
pocket-shaped nests, bringing up under
this unique structure large and interest
ing family of little weayers. There is an
other bird called the tailor" which. in
stead of weaving its nest, encloses it in
big leaves and stitches the latter togeth-
er with plant fibres, just as one would sew
a piece of cloth.
The mound fowls of Australia and
New Guinea construct mounds of decayed
leaves for their nests. In these the eggs
are laid and covered over with the same
material. The warmth engendered by the
decomposition of the leaves causes the
eggs to hatch, and the young in due time
burrow their way out TO life and the open
air. These birds are regarded as the la
Ziest Of all the feathery kingdom. Next
10 them comes the common blackbird OF
America for laziness. These blackbirds
never build nests of their own, but lay
their eggs in the nests of other birds. and
leave them to be Matched by foster moth
ers. This is an unfortunate imposition on
the smaller birds. as the blackbird's young
is so large when first Matched that he soon
crowds the smaller birds out OF the nest
and has it all to himself.
Among the cranes and grouse are those
which delight in the terpsichorean art, and
they will gather in large numbers and in
dulge in a dance, going through some fig
ures which would furnish material for
some of the fashionable germans. Then
there is the bell bird" which has voice
like the tolling OF a bell and makes one
feel that funeral procession is coming up
the street. A huge hollow stump, with a
number of Carolina parokeets hanging by
their bills, shows how these queer birds
sleep at night. The New Guinea parokeet
does the reverse. always roosting hanging
by the feet with head downward. The
umbrella bird has a crest like an UNI
brelia and uses it in rainy weather to keep
the water on his other shiny feathers.