The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-18
HOW BIRDS CATCH FISH.

among them they have as many ways
 of capturing their prey as human fish
 ermen have. Some, with more patience
 than most men possess, stand silently
 on the shores, waiting for the fish to | approach them: others put out to sea,
 ana capture their prey in deep water. UT these feathered fishermen, none is
 more familiar than the belted kingisb-
 CT, which may be seen in the eastern
 states at almost any time between | March and December His favorite
 nshlng grounds are wooded streams
 and ponds, though he may often be seen l Tn the vicinity Of salt water. The king nsher spends much of his time watch
 ing for fish from some favorite perch. such as stake in the river or an over
 hanging branch. From such a point he
 makes short journeys out over the wa
 ter, sometimes returning at once. at other times flying to some other nearby perch. It is while on these little trips
 that he does his fishing As he catches
 slght of fish near the surface of the
 water he hangs luttering for a mo-
 ment above it, and then pitches down
 into the river or lake, often disappear
 ing from view in a jet of flying spray.
 If successful, he soon arises, with the
 struggling fish held safe in his stout
 tWo-inch bill. shakes the water from
 his plumage. and. rattling proudly flies to some convenient place to eat his prey.
 Somewhat similar are the methods of the osprey. AS he swings in wide cir cles through the clouds, his wonderful eye searches the water for some sign which may betray the presence of hsh. As he receives the sign, he stops sailing, and with Tapping wings he steadies himself for plunge. Then downward he speeds, in meteoric flight, striking the water with such force that a fountain of spray shoots upward from the place where he disappears. For a moment he is lost, then up he rises in labored flight, lifting a shining captive Which he grapples in his eight black talons, and which he bears away to some dead tree, where he tears it to pieces with his hooked bill.
 Quite different are the fishing meth ods adopted by the herons, With heads drawn in between their shoulders, and often upon one leg, like statues they stand on the bank of a pond or stream, waiting for the fish to come within | striking distance of their spear-like bills. At other times they wade eau tiously out into the water lifting and l placing their feet with extraordinary care, lest they alarm the fish they are approaching. When near enough, the long neck shoots out, and it is suddenly | withdrawn and behold, the successful l heron has a fish. If it is a small one, he gives it shake and swallows it head | first; if a large one, he may have to \ pound it a little on the bank, to make it | more willing to be swallowed quietly. | He will then resume fishing as patiently l as before.
 Different again is the method of the white pelican, who catches his prey while swimming. A flock of peIicans will surround a school of small fish, and by beating the water with their long wings drive their victims toward the shore. As they proceed, each pelican is busy scooping up the fish into the big pouch with which his lower mandible is provided. After sufficient number nave been "netted,' the birds go ashore Or fish dinner.
 Jaegers and skuas are sea pirates, i md obtain their fish by robhng the ,ulls and terms. When one of the latter birds has captured fish, one of these pirates will pursue him, and force him o disgorge his prey. This form of pi- 'acy is practised by many other fish 'ating birds, most of which are skilful though to catch the disgorged plunder n mid-air
 Gulls obtain their fish by taking it leatly from the surface of the water; erns plunge into the sea, after remain ng out of sight for several seconds be- ore arising with their prey.
 The skinner has still another meth d. He flies rapidly along, close to the water, with his knife-like lower mandi- | le carried just beneath the surface, nd ready to catch up any prey which nay cross his path. Gannets alternate y fly and sail above the water and se- ure their fish by dropping from the air. 'arters and cormorants dive from a low erch or from the surface and pursue heir fish under water, The serrated l ills of the former and the hooked bills f the latter are well adapted for hold lg such slippery prey. Sheldrakes also apture their fish by pursuing them un- CT water and hold them easily in their aw-edged bills.
 The man-o'-War bird does his fishing hile on the wing, and in several differ 1t ways. He is extremely active, and
 
 zee, sometimes as it leaps out of the ater, and sometimes he pursues suc- 'ssful gulls and terms, and forces them K
 disgorge the fish they have captured 1T their own use.
 ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.