The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1913-09-02
Man and
the Bird


than-air machines and his difficulties
In controlling his mechanisms in vary
Ing currents and eddies have natural.
~ aroused interest in the doings ef
his most easily-studied prototypes
the birds. Although a bird is far bet
ter equipped than a man, even in the
most perfect and powerful flying ma
chino yet invented, to cope with swirl
Ing gusts and sudden blasts. few seath-
cred creatures care to fly during
storm
Drexci says: THE aeroplane las its
limitations. and they are so far very
narrow ones" If this be true of the
mechanical power, what Of the guild
ing intelligence behind It? writes
Richard Kearton in The Sphere. Man
has to conceive a situation and COM
municate his will through his limbs
to his mechanism, whereas q bird in
s',0cH"o'v throws It's will into it's
Wings ai.d tail. which ia q much short
{ path to results.
Now let - s'.rca for a moment at
tie rela f.c Speeds CT mental percep-
ten In 4 i"au ard a bird. For q long
series 81 years have undergone a
severe training in quick mental per-
oeption an at the crucial moment
setting r"Nidly-answerlng mechanical
oontrlval.c1s In motion. and have no
Hesitation in stating that the powers
q the meet alert human being when
compared with those of bird are as
tie speed Of snail to that OF a Derby
winner. Some idea of q birds mar
vclous raridlty Of perception and re-
sultant action may he gained when l
state THAT l have exposed dozens OF
rhotogr phic plates With my focal
rlane index showing that | was work
ing at l sTeed Of the 200th part OF
second ic'Cre secured picture of a
crested :it On branch near its nest
Ing hole. Even in such q short space
Of time the bird was able to conceive
the sound and set its wings In motion
before the shutter of the camera
closed
No Flights in Rough Weather.
Now II such wonderfully-euuippe
creature as g bird finds a difficulty in
flying in strc2g currents and eddies,
low much g~"atcr must these same
difficulties be FOR the airman. Every.
body has seen large flocks of starlings
going through their astonishing aerial
evolution to'ore retiring to rest for
the night caI marveled at the skill
with which they avoided colliding
With e'cl other whilst wheeling,
twisjn; nd swooping. This Illus.
tratCe lie t>treme rapidity of their
men Il. perception and it's translation
into action, but in spite Of these very
usei-l cIc. fcatOns the birds do not
risk such exhibition displays Of flight
during very stormy weather. Mem
bers OF AK Of grouse flushed dur
Ing = Of wind have been known
TO Come aal Kill each other in mid.
sir.
= '"so! on che occasion putting
q grouse IN near to a stone wall dur
ing v>ry Gusty weather. The bird
had not preceded far before it was
caught b. terrific side blast and
tur!- Z c+ir@t Ike wall. Falling to
the -@,n i; rcze again, but instead of
atte rs ~ continue its flight. par.
al!el Win The fence. took course at
righ' 1-s 10 i. Gld by q series OF
vigo; -"s WIN bets forced its way
and then. turning right around. sailed
away over the wall on outstretched
wings. Grouse, like seagulls, appear
to be able to read the signs of q COM
ing storm, and frequently seek shell
ter before the breaking OF the blast.
l have known them to leave the ex-
posed hilltops and descend even to
the meadows right at the bottom OF
Yorkshire dale before the oncoming
OF an exceptionally heavy gale accom-
panied by hail and rain.
Island Birds In a Hurricane.
Some years ago whilst In the outer
Hebrides l noticed thousands of sea-
gplls Of different species sitting quite
still in a pasture close to the Atlantic.
Every head was turned toward the sea.
from which a moderate breeze was
blowing. BY the middle of the after
noon the wind had increased to such
hurricane force that pieces of foam
as large aa = mans head were being
carried from the beach quarter of a
mile inland. and not a bird OF any
Kind was to be seen on the wing. Anx.
ious to see how my feathered friends
were faring during such exceptional
weather | struggled forth, sometimes
progressing on my feet, and at others.
In exposed places, on my hands and
knees. found common terms shell.
tering behind boulders at a consider
able distance from the shore. Arriv.
Ing at a vertical hole some 10 feet In
diameter and 90 feet in depth In the
roof OF a long sea cave, I was astonish.
cd to discover peregrine falcon sit.
ting In the company of about 40 rock
doves. The storm had actually made
tho lion lie down with the lambs.
There was great clatter OF wings as
the terrified birds rose from their
place OF shelter. The peregrine was
carried down wind like q piece of ma.
per and soon disappeared from sight
but the pigeons battled on their strong
wings until / had retreated a little
way, and all dlved into the hole once
more.
How much birds dislike windy
weather may be gathered from their
silence and lack Of activity during a
rough day In June. Whilst no bird
likes TO ny IN strong following wind
on account Of the liability of have lts
feathers ruhisd, heavy-bodied short.
winged species, such as ducks. appra.
clate o strong breeze In which % it,