The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16

from twig TO twig it does not forget to stop
every few seconds and shake its wings and
jerk it's tail in a most comical manner. A
hop. a culver Of wings and tail, a skip, with
accC lpanying shake all over; u jump, with
a oonvulsive shake, auivering and spas
modic twitching Of head, wings and tail, at
once proclaim the aptness OF its name.
When several of them meet the birds go
tnrou gh the most laughable series of bows,
quivering Of wings and tail vibrations.
Occasionally scientists make mistakes
in their classifications. One OF the most
typical examples OF such is found in the
ca Sc oil a New Zealand bird.
This bird was a h~oneysucker and a
hunter OF flowers. Now in the early sum-
mer it visited most frequently the flowers
of the native fax and later in the year fed
chiefly on the fuchsia. The pollen Of the
former is red and of the latter blue.
Hence in the early summer the bird APP
peared with a red head and was named the
red headed honeyseeker. But when later
in the year it went to the fuchsia its head
was stained blue, and il was called the blue
beaded honeyseeker. Thus for a long
time this bird was thought to be two dis
tinct species and only recently was it found
SAoe hhO AOoA OtO ~ III hCaA NoS OioNhAoh
brown.
Some birds are chiefly remarkable for
the nests they make. The largest birds
nest is that a by the Australian jungle
fowl. This bird collects a quantity of
d~ecaying vegetable matter and builds with
1t mounds Is feet in height and from l25
to $50 feet in circumference. The eggs
are laid in a circle nine or twelve inches
apart and buried more than an arms depth,
with the large end upward.
sTha ApatrnIian hrtrEh f.VrL0-a uunrLtpp
in colonies, build pyramidal nests even
larger, One OF these nests On being re-
moved filled seven carts and itstotal weight
was five tons.
The most ingenious Of nests is made
by the Reput iioan. This little kird OF
India, which is about the size of "A sparrow,
lives in numerous families, that unite in
forming immense colonies.
Their dwellings have the appearance
OF q circular framework surrounding the
trunk OF sorre large tree and at a distance
resemble great roofs attached to the trees.
/ once counted as many as 300 cells, which
indicated that IL was Inhabited by 800 birds.
These nests are so heavy that many men
and a large wagon were required TO get one
down intact and carry il away.
Certain live birds are put to curious
uses. In the northern part Of South Am erica
the natives often avail themselves of the
ervices Of a species OF crane to care for
their poultry. n also use it in place of a
uOk ~ HeTl JuCT uOLuCbllC duAildNrs HIS
remarkable bird, which the indian call
yakamik and the ~ornithologists Pcsphia
crepitans, is found in a wild state in the great
forests that lie between the northern coasts
Of South America and the Amazon,
Their usual gait is a slow and stately
march, hut they enliven themselves from
time to time by leaping up in the air, exc
cutting eccentric and fancy waltZes and
striking al surd attitudes. When alarmed
they utter the peculiar cry which has Do
tanned for them the name of trumpeter.
The yakamiks are cry readily tanned
n prove valuat lie servants 10 the Indians.
They may he trusted with the care Of a
flock of sheep or domestic fowls, and every
morning will drive the ducks and poultry
to their feeding places and, carefully col
Letting any stragL lers, bring them safely
hone at night.
the natives of the Keeling Islands, in
the South Seas, make a rather re narkaF le
use Of the frigate bird. When captured
young this uird IL easily trained to act as
a decoy for others OF its kind.
a hunter, wishing 10 shoot some of the
birds, throws out within eunshot on the
surface OF the water a piece of attractive
! ait upon which the tame frixate swoopS
down, almost SYSTEMATICALLY, time after
time. Several Of its hungry brethren.
always hanging about. soon make their
appearance 10 strug' 10 for a share. The
decoy scars out of range, while his unfortu-
nate dupc falls a victim to the shotgun"