Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-09-18

three-sco years and 10, but his eye
is not dim, nor is his natural force
abated. He lost, but not without max
Ing plucky fight of it. He attributes
his defeat to the fact that an unsound
ball was used at a critical juncture.
The colonel acted up to his belief, and
wrought vengeance upon the ball by
sending it forth into space. The ball,
although unsound, obeyed the laws of
gravitation; it fell on a grassy plot.
Presently a vigilant crow espied that
ball, and. taking it for an egg.
swooped down upon it, seized it in its
powerful beak, and bore it off in
triumph. Of course it was very fool
ish OF crow to mistake a ping-pong
ball Tor an egg; for, granted that he
was not a society bird, acquainted
with the mysteries of ping-pong. the
weight of the ball should have suf-
feed to convey to his corvine mind
the fact that it could not contain a
very substantial breakfast. But
crows, although the cleverest of birds.
are really very silly, if judged by
human standards. They have not the
wit to discover when a keel has
dropped an egg into the nest. bnor
have they the sense to distinguish the
lnterloper, when it is Matched, from
! one of their own kind
Having secured its prize, the worthy
/ crow took up a commanding position
on the branch of a bamboo tree. After
! little prospecting he caught sight
of small stone post, which appeared
to be admirable adapted to his pur-
| pose. To this he flew, and dropins
the ball, pecked at it to break it. In.
| stead of breaking, the ball hoped on
| to the ground; the crow retrieved it
and again had a peck at it, with the
! same result. Having repeated the
| process half a dozen times the crow
grew thoughtful. Never before had he
come across such an obstinate egg.
He then decided to tackle it upon the
ground; here he met with no better
~uccess. He next flew to q neiehbor-
ing tree, and from that altitude con-
| templated the ball. which he had left
i lying on the ground. A happy thought
| suddenly seized him. He took up the
egg in his beak, and flew with it to a
| branch some six feet above the
ground, and let it fall. 1t survived
| the shock intact. This was too much
| for another crow that had been at
tentlvely watching the first bird Said
he to himself: eff that juggins can't
break the egg, there is nothing left
but for me to show him how to do it,
Having delivered himself of these
sentiments, he made a swoop at the
ball, snapped at it as he flew over.
but since the first crow was in hot
pursuit he missed it. Then followed
long contest between the second
bird and the rightful owner. Every
time the former attempted to capture
the egg, the latter flew after him and
tried to i'eck him. After a little both
birds came to rest on different trees
within full view of the ball, each with
his back toward the other
Crows are not straightforward
birds. They live chiefly by deceit.
Each wanted the other to think that
he had forgotten all about the bone
of contention. After the struggle had
continued some 20 minutes the first
bird was seized with a sudden fit of
generosity, and decided to let his
, rival have an inning The latter's
score was no larger than that of the
first crow. In vain he pecked at the
! ball, which bounded away at each
peck; in vain he jumped upon it, He
was clearly losing his temper when
third crow arrived on the scene.
and little knowing what was in store
for him, gayly tackled the egg, which
| the second crow gave up to him in
the most selfdenying manner. Before
he had quite exhausted his energy
two more crows arrived and forth
with attacked the ball. The other
three crows remained placidly looking
| on from neighboring tree Alter a
time the two new corners, who had
| taken alternate pecks at the celluloid
sphere, left it in disgust and Joined
the other three birds in the tree. The
whole five cawed in unison, in a man
ner betraying the most unspeakable
disgust