The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-25

declares he knew nothing Of the rag
Grenadier guards, and which included
several dukes, Colonel Kinloch has been |
ubalterns and retired on half pay.
animals are In many respects as sensible
and civilized as human beings.
The author appeals for his proof not to /
the trained animals of the zoo and the cir
GUS but to the wild creatures of the forest.
He asserts that morality, sanitation, law,
etiquette charity and competitive sports
existed among the birds, insects and four
footed animals for thousands and perhaps
millions Of years before the appearance OF
the human race.
Thou shalt not steal has always
been q law among many species OF
birds, says Kropotkn. A number of
different kinds of migratory birds Or
ganize themselves into building associa-
lions. They have their winter homes
in the north. Year after year they return
to the same nests and if some lazy bird
whose nest is beginning to fall to pieces
dares to steal nest belonging to one
Of his mates he is at once bounced upon by
the whole tribe and severely PICKED until
he promises never to do it again.
During the migrations Of birds north
and south, says Prince ,Kropotlxtn, the
larger birds protect the smaller ones. The
tiny lark flies under the protecting wing
of the crane, and when it is weary with
the long fight it has been seen to perch
itself upon the crane back tss~:
Many species Of birds, display a really
human intelligence in hunting for their
food. Even the clumsy pelicans know
how to catch fish as sclever1y as the fisher
men Of Nantucket OF. Marblehead
1.-The pelicans,' says the Russian sci
enlist always go, fishing IN numerous
! bands, and after having chosen an appro-
pirate bay they form a; wide halfcirce in
! face of the shore and narrow it by pad
ding toward the shore, catching all fish
| that happen to be inclosed in the circle
ION narrow rivers and canals they
even divide into two parties, each OF
| which draws up half-circle and
both paddle to meet each other-just as
If two parties of men dragging two lonG
nets should advance to capture all fish
taken between the nets when both par
ties come to meet sE%s
The hunting parties of the great white
tailed eagles are equally well planned
They generally go out in small parties o.
: 10, flying high in the air and far apart. II
this way they can cover an area of TWEEN
ty-fve miles at once When one of the
eagles discovers food he. utters a loud
piercing shrek, which is repeated by thu
others.
The eagle who has made the discov
cry flies down to his prey, but never. at
tempts to eat until all his companions
, have arrived. Then, for 50 it is writer
: in the laws Of etiquette obeyed by tn
; eagles, the older birds eat first, while tn
younger ones mount guard and keep al
other animals at a distance.
The detective system Of the cranes i
described as being very remarkable. I
hunters are In the neighborhood .severa
cranes are always sent to watch then
and give warning OF their approach.
a large body Of cranes is moving to
new feeding place one Is sent ahead t
( see If any enemies are lurking near. O
his return, If he reports nothing danger
Gus. three or four birds are sent. ahea
with him to make sure that he has tol
the truth, and not till the second repor
is made and everything is known to b
favorable will the general order be give
: to advance.
Conventions. concerts and balls ar
Z common occurrences among wild bird!
The lapwings have been seen to g
through a whole program of dances, es
ecuting polkas. waltzes, etc, in a highl
creditable manner.
The parrots are the cleverest Of. a
:, birds. says Kropotkif. They have sue
= a ell-organized police system that n
other species Of bird ever ventures I
attack them, and they invariably die
:, old age.
10 The gray parrot is called the "birt
hi man. by the savages. This bird is nj
II only intelligent, but extremely affection
If ate as well. IF one Of his mates is kille
sd by a hunter4he will at once fly: to the boo
We and, uttering loud cries Of grief, allo
=, =; himself to be captured without resistant
80 The gray parrot has even been known
or die in these oltbrusts of violent grief.
ch The. viscacha, or Russian rabbit, has
n, little civilization of It's own These brig
IS, little animals live in villages of sever
" hundred each and are very sociable.
~ =, bright moonlight nights 1t is usual f
81. these villages to visit one another al
se enjoy several hours Of conversation al
ne play. If one of these; rabbit villages h
he the misfortune td be plowed over by an i
PIE considerable farmer the Inhabitants &
o., Q. other villages will gather together a,
NJ dig out their buried comrades.
me Even more wonderful stories are I
all lated in Mutual Aid'' about the civiliz
'ou ton Of the ants. Some Of the towns
ess these tiny creatures have been found
'a. contain as many as 100 nests, with
, ,sa average of 100000 ants to a nest. Thus
an. single ant town would contain g popu
the ton of $40, 100000, or more than one-th
nd, as many as the entire human populati
eed Of the world. .85
of How little orphaned birds are TAX
es, into other nests; how crows and pelics
ma carry food to the blind; how the "
j I fawns Of the forest play the same gan
Gus as the children in the schoolyard; h
ong the little tee-tee monkeys carry tn
'ou: wounded comrades for miles, and how
. OF muskrats have established SAINT;
an9 y system which keeps them in good heal
me are all related in the princes new book
.ris Il The book, is, however, much more. Il
aud a description of clever animals. 1t is
me, ayowed refutation of the Darwin
an n. theory of the survival of the fttest.
dis 4s7ezf, 80 q 1., ~, -, 49,,
49, ornfho1s rr41lf1Ial ornfeGfi