The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-27
THE SPORTS OF ANIMALS.
NATURALIST TELLS OF PAsTBEs
HE HAS SEEN THEM ENJOY.

Hirds That Have PlayhOuses and
Hold Cake Walks for Their Pleas
ure.
From the New York Sun.
my IDEAS may be those of an extrem-
tsr said a lover of natural history re-
Gently. but I believe that animals Of all
kinds know very much more than they get
credit for. I have been off on trip for
several months collecting, and have paid
especial attention 10 what might be called
fbe sports and games of animals; and if
they don't play after the manner OF chill
dren then I am very much mistaken.
IL was particularly struck with the OF
tiers which I saw, found in my travels a
famous place for them. and so made my
pl8ns to study them, which l did by hid
ing in some brush in the side of a little
stream watching them with a glass. 1t
was a most fascinating sight. Nearly all
OF the half dozen animals which l saw
were as playful as kittens, rolling over
and over pretending to fight, and engaging
an graceful and enjoyable pastlmes. One
of the sports which struck me as most in
reresting was a slide. The descent to the
river at this point was perhaps ten feet,
and the animals ndQ formed Il regular
sjde at an angle of about forty-fiVe de-
erees. An otter would start a few feet
back and run, twisting himself on his
back when he struck the slide, going
down the slippery place like an arrow, en-
tering the water head first and disappear
ing for a second to rise and swim in and
nv it again. Sometimes two or three
would go Siding down at once, with feet
40 in the air, and once two, by some error
In Judgment, became entangled and struck
the water in a heap, rolling over and over.
This entertainment was kept up for near
" an hour and renewed at various times
during the day. The slide, which l ex-
amined later, was smooth and nicely
made
The sea otter is also very interesting
Some years ago I was travelling along the
coast of Washington when l came to a
town of shacks occupied by sea otter hunt
ers On a dong point of land which ran
out into the sea was a tall pole or mast
with an old ships ladder leading up on
10 it. and on top place where the hunt
ers hid. The sea offers lived in the
keid beds, and the men watched for them,
and if near enough shot them or signaied
boat. 1 went out in the latter, a dOu>
december, which lay behind a pointa Of
rocks waiting for an otter to appear. When
one came l had an oportunity to see this
rare animal free. Its cat-like head show
ed first, the eyes glancing about in a sus-
picious manner Then l saw it swim out
where the surf was rolling in just beyond
the edge of the kelp Here it turned on
It's back and rode the waves like a boat,
and 1 saw that it held between its legs
little one, supporting it as a swimmer
would a child. 1t was pity to kill such
an affectionate creature or break up so
perfect a family party, but the ring of the
hunters rifle sounded in a few moments
and the old otter rolled over dead.
.E,~lr.
those of children is well known. They
not only play, but have play hours. This
is particularly true of the lower birds Of
Australia. have been fortunate in see
ing one in confinement, and the habit was
so strongly impressed upon ii that even
in a cage it took the various things Of
iered and attempted to decorate the floor
and walls. In a short time this bird had
nearly a bushel of rags of brilliant col
ors, pieces of shining tin, bones, sticks,
colored stones and shells, all of which it
used in its games In playing such things
are picked up and carried about by the
male Bird dropped here and there, and
changed about, undoubtedly to attract the
attention of the female.
Il have seen one of these playhouses in
Australia, that was five feet long" con-
tnued the traveller. ut had nothing to do
with the nest of The bird and was just as
much a playhouse as any possessed by a
act Of making one. Sticks were first select
ed, TWO or three feet in length, and placed
i'm ne ground, the large end first, so that
they fell over and met other sticks on the
opposite side, which thus formed a tent
SNAPPED structure. In ii the birds danced up
AM down, affec ing mluc ng airs, rs
their toys on the branches and scattered
others about on the floor.
The perfection of this playhouse habit
Is found in one of the great islands south
OF Malay, where a little bird known as
ambLopsis ereCts perfect house, he work
showing that in constructive ability it is
ahead Of some human be ngs. The first
one ever seen by white men was found by
Baccari, an Italian natula list, who was
travelling in the heart of Borneo. He sud-
denly came upon IL in little clearing, and
for some time could not be convinced that
IL was not the work of native chill rem but
ne was taken aside to watch, and finally
saw the birds about the playhouse which
was a perfect hut with a peaked Roof. The
birds had cleared away a spot about a
small tree, which was denuded of verdure
on is lower part, and then fast-growing
orchid was selected as timber and leaned
against 1t; the birds being careful TO leave
a door or opening. The orchids soon grew
lo2etner forming a roof and in front Of
the house a lawn was made, the birds pick
ing out the undesirable weeds. The grass
was dotteA with flowers, collected from
lar and near, and al the back of the
rouse was a heap of withered blossoms,
mesh ones being D. ovid d every day.
What might be called a cake walk has
been observed several times among the
httle birds known as cocks of the rock.
Ihey resemble pigeons, but are of a blood
req nue.. The feathers are especially val
Ued and in the early days of Brazil
We're used only for the Emperor, his robe
OF office being entirely composed of the
n a q
and their habits little understood but
some years ago a naturalist traVersed
bfazil with the express purpose of study
ing them, and it was his good fortune
10 catch them at their sport He had a
number of native scouts, who reported
anything of interest and one day he was
called TO witness what they called meet
ing OF birds. He was conducted some dis
lance through the brush, finally coming
TO little opening which he reached by
crawling through the thick brush on hands
ana knees. Standing in an almost perfect