Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-22

large glass-fronted cage to himself. His
body was thick a big mans arm. ana
it was coiled like a great steel spring,
ready for action at an instant's notice.
Above the coil arose the tail. with many
rattles. which vibrated fast that they
appeared as mist, and ominous sound
could be heard above the hum of the crowd
But il was the head which attracted me
most of all. It was horrible but fascinat-
ing. 1t rested on the outer coil of the
body, and was still and silent as though
carved in bronze. But the look Of pitiless.
uncOmpromising hatred was almost past
belief. That look. expressed in English.
seemed to say to the gazing crowd. Curse
you all; If this glass were only out of the
way, how l would make you scatter"
A Curious Bird
OF the many attractions in the bird house
none seemed more wonderful than the
snake birds or darters. which live on fish
and which pursue and capture their living
prey beneath the water That their methods
may be readily observed the tank in which
they are fed is glass-sided While | was
there the keeper threw into the tank
number of small live fish, and one of the
watchful birds al once walked down to .ha
waters edge. Peering beneath the surface.
he sighted the fish, and, lowering his head,
slipped quietly in
With bis long thin neck extended and
using his feet propellers, he glided
through the water readily as the fish on
which he lived. But, though his neck was
extended in front, there was still knk in
ii, caused by curious arrangement of tht
vertebrate. One of these laps over another
in such way to form a trigger, which
the bird can release at will. The use Of this
was seen presently. when the darter. swim
ming slowly, neared his prey. When the
sharp bill was within a few inches of the
fish the kink disappeared in an instant. as
the trigger was released. and the head flew
fn sa~i md IA int of fl.. hill
clean through the body of the victim. The
bird did not eat his prey under water, but
al once swan to the surface. tossed the iisn
into the air. caught it cleverly, and swaI-
lowed 1t whole.
"Sultan," the Lion.
During my very brief visit l saw nothing
more majestic than the great lion. Sui
TAM" who, when | entered. was lying with
his massive head resting easily on his great
forepaws. Presently he began to lick those
paws with his broad tongue-carefully. low
ingly it seemed as good sportsman
might clean his favorte gun. Then lie
arose and began to pace his cell, in silence
and with a dignity not to be described.
Three or four PAGES to the right the Same
to the left, and then he strobe to the right
again Each time he came about he PIVOT
ed on the ball of his hind foot, as soldier
does
How many thousands of times lie had
paced the front OF that cage no ore VIII
ever tell, but so many that even ms soft
pads in pivoting had worn deDressioT.s in
the hardwood floor. He saw all, in hat
surSing crowd, but he looked a none, and
L tired to study the whole picture with
an unprejudced eye l was forced 20 admit
that on. dignity compared with his vas
small indeed. And as | watched the mighty
free-born thing pacing out his He for the
glory of man." L asked myself what phrase
might best describe him. | must have put
thR question aloud. and
my ear, "A soul in prison" and tu,n;nS
met the earnest face of Miss Laut, the
novelist.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.