The times., 1899-08-27


game OF money making, may find there
things of interest. The keepers can tel
you, should you gain their confidence
many stories queer and quaint about the
habits of their charges.
The elephant" said one of these men
lis about the most intelligent animal
which boards in this park II is very sa-
gacious species. Dunk, that big brute
which you see reaching for those peanuts
and casting sympathetic glances at the
children, is quite bright, but the longest
headed elephant with which ! have been
associated was called Jessie. She was wild
born, but was not a laggard in learning
some Of the tricks Of civilization. When ]
met her she was living at the st. Louis
Fair Grounds, and ] think she is still do
ing exhibition stunts out there. One day
/ observed that she was greatly worried
and annoyed by the attacks of a swarm OF
large flies. These insects had settled On
her back, where she could not reach them
with her proboscis or with her tail She
seemed to study the situation for a few
moments. then reaching out her trunk
she seized a mop broom which stood in the
corner OF her stall and deliberately brush
ed of the greedy little blood suckers
with il.
Science aud Peanuts.
Jessie had some knowledge of pneu-
matics- One day ! tossed peanut, which
fell to the ground some eight or ten inches
beyond the utmost reach of her trunk. She
stretched out this organ to its fullest sex-
tent toward the peanut, then blew through
IL a sudden, quick, and powerful blast The
peanut was hurled against the wall, from
whence Il bounded and then rolled be-
meath the feet of the intelligent animal,
which al once swallowed il. ! tried this
experiment several times, each time with
q like result
Il once saw an elephant deliberately
fashion surgical instrument ] saw b m
go 10 a bamboo fence and break on one of
the pickets; this picket il further fractur-
ed with its trunk and one OF its forefect
until il obtained 2 sharp fragment some
ten or twelve inches in length. Then,
Leaning forward On one Of its forelegs, 1t
thrust this fragment. which il grasped with
its trunk, into irs "armpit,' and vigur-
ously moved il to and fro. As a result of
this operation. large elephant leech was
dislodged. which dropped TO the ground
and was at once ground 10 mincemeat
beneath the horny toes OF the sagacious
hrute, which grunted its intense satisfac-
tion."
The Intelligence of Birds.
Standing IN front of the av.ary at the
Zoo. was tall man. old and grey His
locks and his beard were long. and in his
eyes there burned kindly light He was
intently watching the birds He was an
Ornithologist- To Times man he said:
Il believe those birds know very much
more than We usually give them credit for
believe the birds have games as perfect
as have children, and that they not only
play but that they have play hours.
This is particularly true of the bower
birds Of Australia. / have been fortunate
In seeing one in confinement, and the habit
was so strongly impressed upon il that
even In cage it took the various things Of
fered and attempted TO decorate the floor
and walls. In a short time the bird had
nearly bushel OF rags OF brilliant colors
pieces OF shining tin. bones, sticks. colcred
stones. and shells, all of which il used il
Is games. In playing such things are pick
ID up and carried about by the male bird,
iropDed here and there, and changed about,
70 attract the attention of the
female.
i have seen one of these 2, p,ayhouses in
Australia that was five feet long" contin-
aed the old man 1t had nothing TO do
with the nest OF the bird and was Just as
much a playhouse as any possessed by q
child. The bird has been watched in the
act OF making one. Sticks were first Sc
lected, two or three feet in length. and
placed Ia the ground, the large end first.
50 that they fell over and met other sticks /
On the opposite side, which thus formed
structure. In il the birds
1anced up and down. affecting mineing
ilrs hung their toys on the branches and
scattered others about on the floor
The perfection OF this playhouse habit
5 found in one of the great islands south
II Malay, where little bird known as
lmbliopsis erects perfect house, the
work showing that in constructive ability
[ is ahead OF some human beings. The
irst one ever seen by white men was
ound by Baccari, an Italian naturalist.
gho was travelling In the heart OF Borneo
ae suddenly can upon il in q little clear
ne, and for some time could not be con-
Iinced that IL was not the work of native
hiidren; but he was taken aside 10 watch.
nd finally saw the birds about the play /
iouse, which was a perfect hut with a
'eaked root The birds had cleared away 4
! spot about small tree, which was de- |
luoed OF verdure on its lower part, and |
hen fast-growing orchid was selected /
As timber and leaned against II; the birds I
being careful 10 leave door or opening.
The orchids soon grew together. forming
! roof, and in front OF the house q lawn
vas made, the birds picking out the IN
desirable weeds. The grass was dotted
With flowers, collected from far and near
Ind at the back Of the house was a heap
Il witheree blossoms, fresh ones being
provided every day.
Cocks of the Rock.
What might be termed a cakewaIk has
been observed several times among the
title birds known as cocks of the rock. /
They resemble pigeons. but are OF a blood |
ed hue The feathers are especially val !
led, and in the early days OF Brazil were /
sed only for the Emperor. his robe OF Office /
'etng entirely composed OF the richest /
lamage. The birds are very rare and their |
abits little understood, but some years ago 1
naturalist trayersed Brazil with the ex- /
ress purpose OF studying them, and il was 1
as good fortune 10 catch them al their
port. He had a number OF native scouts.
rho reported anything OF interest. and one
ay he was called 10 witness what they
allied meeting OF the birds. He was con-
ucied some distance through the brush
nally coming 10 q little opening which he
cached by crawling through the thick
ushe on hands and knees. Standing In an
lmost perfect circle about FIVE feet across,
'as flock OF cocks OF the rock, each bird
boulder 10 shoulder with its mate. head
ointed 10 the centre, all evidently gazing
hirc which II not going through cake
ialk was al least doing an interesting imi-
alton IL was bowing to the audience. dip
ing lis head to the ground. turning round
nd round and bobbing this way and that,
s every motion being carefully watched by
be lookers-on. The bird would hop on one
grffF I
1ck. and by It's grotesqne movements show
that II was undoubtedly giving an ex-
lbluoG. The dance waE continued until
be bird was exhausted Nhen a fell hacl !