The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-09-16

! Odd Antics OF the SpcclSled Rea IN lie.
I In English Rfrer-Tournnraen es
by Ducks and Aerial Games i,>
I Birds of Many Species.
Among tie most secluded valleys in
! The south of England is the lowe.
/ course OF the river Windrush. which,
| falls into the Thames by the New
| bridge. Which Sir John Gol;;fre built in
| the Fourteenth century Tie river is
| beautiful. and the meadows through
which il flows are green and fertile.
But there are almost no ro:ites or houses
near the stream for the last few miles,
| ans: only two ancient and beautiful
mills. the lowe" being Gaunt lnill. near
CANT House. which was rebuilt TX tnc
famous Dr.. Fell. and TIE u..rcg mill
belonging: 70 the ancient maao.' CT STAB
Ton HIrcoi;rt.
BY ,ho mill house garden lies Il VIDE
POOL with gravclly shadows by its
banks. ever which the Gear waters
slide without ripple. l.. tie b:'..:-!i'
May cy@a.n-S. when the l'sDi is ~ IL
Stiiest, tie little trcrt come OCT ON T.
these Swallows 10 play. IE.cS a.e ~
larger thai: SUrat>;. but rs - ~ il j.
possible Ter iis>,i to be which! t.!oy. SHOW:
hy Die =;,r.ie tiley uiay.
Tiic;i. o1;".:. 50 far rs c...l Is j'it-- Cd.
is to :staliG upon thei:. ts.i.:s 81. tie 80.
face. el>r little fish s.. ba;iss- oG. nn-
right from! TIE water itast - f..' t:G
no farther ana reminding. Eci = rffo-
Iilc1,t ia t...st position b&foce d"a2&i!!@
back mo tie SrCGai!;. is obviously :!
form o. pij!S. and probably Represents
the '-t;auc::l.-' Of Itl!e nsi3 referred TO
IL -I1So;I':s fable.
Wien even trout have q form OF play
it cannot he matter for surprise t!iat
both beasts and birds sEa"c the pleas
urc which frolic Of 4 I>ind gives to TIE
cold blGoIed fishes Of our rivers Liut
the degree in which their sport takes
the form of games varies Some aI.:
mails will play with objects, just as a
child :!InEScs Itself with Il cup ana bali
Or vita Il spinning top Others play i'll
company ana use the element Of com
petition and mock contests.
But perhaps the comnonest games OF
all are those III which they use thcir'
unique powers OF speed. flight. climb /
ing or diving in a kind of display" i'll i
Which they often combine the sense OF
physical achievement with
some added satisfaction. evidently
clear to their consciousness. OF doing
this in company. The latter points to
4 rather highly organized degree OF
but in view of the com
bincd performances and displays of
certain animals, o&.2cc;2!iII' birds. it is
difficult TO think that this can be alb
sent.
On orc exceptionally fine and still
a fternoon il thu complete aerial re
pose which follows Il day or two
of cyclonc storms. when the Lon
don sky is washed blue" after The
lownpour of rain which commonly fol
OwS these disturbances. at II height o"
some BOO feet above the Green park
he London =ulls were engaged in u
,orn Of combined aerial play. floating /
n long series CT wide circles. OF very,
learly the same diameter. though TIC
lumher of birds in each varied.
Though when seen from below this
ong ribhonlike festoon c noatiuc birds
seemed TO be on plane. they were
eally flying in spirals. rising and de-
cendin- by setting their wings at Of
erent angles. {
AS fresh birds from the region Of the
ivcr saw tEis chorccic game going or. /
hey lew up in detacbmcHts and fell /
1to place. adding to the number of Cir i
les. until the distance from tl!e first 10 S
he last cIua!cd uearly the whole s
,ngth of the park. They then drificd !
lowly westward maintaining the s
/
There is no doubt that many species t
birds. especially those which fire. Z
uent the surface and shores of water, y
re fond of this decorous play. Homer g
ints at il in his description of the n
Apply birds on the Maeander. Virgil II
otes the pleasure of the swans in a
leir combined fight-ASpice bis senoa b
etantcS acmine cyguOs. !,
And following IIomcT's GRIMES 20 the d
,nrinrnu of Africa. where they en- !;
,sed in winter warfare with the pyS- o
les. Mr. J. e. MiliHiS has noted that Il
cry evening on the banks uf the
uanetzi river tie cranes >usscnblei
I'd spent the last hours Of daylight in
rial play. "Goatin" spiraIs' over the rt
frican stream. The "ftontinE" game II
enjoyed by several species Of English II,
rds other than etllls. but not in such a
form. NJ
Certain statcs of the air when the fl
uds are hustled and the sUnD"amS hi
G bright. invite them to tie sport. OF
'oks Will ascend ut such times tc 81
eat attitudes soaring in Spirals and be
Sccndin- only. to rise again. But il st
the play of individuals in company. in
t Il concerted movement wood til
ICONS do the same and occasionally ca
. ravens by the cliffs The latter tc