Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10

ruary, when he once more saunters forth, this
time to look for wife.
The Chisel Jaw is a small fish found in the
rivers of the West Coast of Africa, and takes
its name from the shape and peculiar dental
armature of the jaw 1t has a blunt muzzlc,
while the cleft of the mouth is directed up
ward Beyond its name, there is nothing par
ticularly interesting about this creature.
The Laughing Jackass is a bird that belongs
to the kinghshers 1t lives in Australia, and
has gained this ridiculous name because of
its absurd way of going off into peals of
laughter without any particular cause. The
Australian bushmen are always delighted to
hear it, for they believe it to be predictions
OF fine weather.
In damp or wet weather, the Laughing
Jackass is different appearing bird from what
it is at other times. Its feathers rutflcd,
its wings droop and hang down until they
can droop no farther, and it has untidy,
bedragged appearance, like an old hen that
has been caught in a shower. 1t will sit
some branch limb of tree and become
miserably sick and wretched, and NOPE all
day long. not even having energy enough to
90 and look for something to eat.
But when the weather begins to clear up
it will burst into peal after peal of Jovial,
rollicking laughter, and its appearance is
transformed into all the glimmering colors of
the rainbow.
The Laughing Jackass has brownish body.
measuring about sixteen inches in length. The
lower part of its back is greenish-blue; large
head with a crest of brown feathers tipped
with white; broad white eyebrows that join
the white feathers round its neck; a whitsh
breast; and a tail about six inches long, with
white feathers.
Its beak is thick and strong, beautifully
adapted for catching small reptiles and fish,
and it can use this beak to good purpose when
defending itself from its enemies.
The Widow is monkey that belongs to
the Tit variety. This curious name was
gwen to it by the Creoles of Brazil In
general color it Is a dark reddish-blacl OF
brown. All round the face is a somewhat
deep rim or band of pure white it has collar
round the neck almost white, and its hands
are also white. These white patches
correspond to the white gloves, veil and
handkerchief worn by the Brazilian widow
that in many ways it is an appropriate name.
This Widow, " however, is not sad or sorrow
full, but placid and contented, although its
chief characteristic is its dull listlessness. 1t
inhabits Brazil and other parts of the Amazon
valley.
The Howler is another monkey; but its
name was given account of its peculiar
and appalling cries. This extraordinary noise
is caused by a curious hollow bone that is
joined to the upper part of the windpipe
and which corresponds to the hyoid bone in
man. The Howlers range into Central
America, but are found in large numbers in
Brazil. The terrific noise made by severa
of these animals together can scarcely be
imagined. Many superstitions attached
to them.
Sing-Sing suggests prison, solitude and
trouble; but in this case it is graceful ante
lope that comes from Western and Central
Africa and stands about three feet and nine
or ten inches at the shoulder. 1t has slight.
delicate feet and limbs, soft, thick hair and
a fine-shaped head, with horns measuring
about twenty-six or twenty-seven inches in
length. 1t is shy and exceedingly nervous
The Mud Puppy is perhaps the most curious
name, and it belongs to curious creature
1t is technically known Proteus dngnfmeaS:
but Oxen gave it the name of the Ohm, and
although it has been known for more than two
hundred years it is still the sole representative