Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-02-18
MWSEv[NNE'
FAIRY TALE
scIssoR-TAiLED FLYcATcHER.
81 hRlN @aails|1ByNeR

| Far south. south of the United
States during the winter" said Daddy,
there is bird known as the Scissor
Tailed Flycatcher.
"We haven't heard of a new bird
or new animal in ever so long" said
Nancy. DO tell us about this one,
Daddy"
Yes. do" urged Nick
He is known by such a name be-
cause he has very long tail which is
very much the shape of pair of scis-
s"rs. In fact his tail is like two tails
which open and shut as one would
open and close a pair of scissors.
"He is very graceful and beautiful
and he loves the air and not the
ground. He very seldom cares about
coming to the ground, for he thinks
that the ground is for creatures who
walk and the air for creatures who
fly and that it is silly to do both.''
'He wouldn't believe it sensible to
be man and ride in an airplane, eh?"
| asked Nick
Il don't suppose he would" said
Daddy. well. to continue about his
ways and habits and looks. He loves
| the woods and the best meals. he
thinks, are meals of insects. He goes
off flying for them between meals just
as ladies go marketing.
Instead of saying to a shOpkeeper.
| &c hot Of hn
says, 1 will catch you, Miss Insect, and
you'll be my dinner, you will"
HE opens and closes his scissor
like tail when he does his marketing
just as ladies would open and close
their purses after they had bought
something.
"His home is very large nest, and
1t is made of anything at all-grass
and bits of cloth and strings and bits
of twigs. He doesn't care whether
his nest is in a big tree or a little
tree or whether it is high, high above
the ground or just a little above the
| ground. In fact, he is very good
| natured.
Mrs. Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher has
happy time with such a pleasant
mate and she is pleasant herself which
makes them both happy.
1.-THE event of her life is Matching
time. When she is sitting on four
whitish brown eggs which will soon be
little scissor-tailed fiycatchers she is
as happy as a bird can be, and that is
1 NOT ~ 1anr1 f,oou min
81 am going to tell you now about
Afr. ScissOr-Tailed Flycatcher and his
talk to an insect.
Little insect said Mr.. Scissor
Tailed Flycatcher, 4 am very well
named. / am called a fiycatcher and l
catch flies. But l don't only catch
flies. 1 catch insects as WELL The lit
tie insect moved wing but it was cap
tured by Mr.. FIycatcher and couldn't
do anything.
81 wouldn't admire myself if could
only catch flies said Mr.. Flycatcher.
any more than l would admire chill
dren who learned how to read but not
! to write. So l catch insects too
81 don't need to be told that the
insect whispered.
Very WE'LL said the Flycatcher I
will take up another subject. l only
told you in case you didn't know. But
it is nice to go on to another lesson.
Children go on from reading and writ
ing to arithmetic and then on to some
thing known as algebra.
| You're very much interested in
children said the insect.
Yes said the Flyeatcher, I am.
Children enjoy good things to eat. That
is sensible of them
THE insect shivered again. 1t knew
that soon, soon it would be eaten.
81 have a secret to tell you next,
said the Flycatcher. 1 don't go on the
ground as it would be very uncomfort-
able for me. l try it once in while
but my long tail makes it hard for me
to get along.
81 am at my best when flying. Then
my tail spreads out and closes.
"'And another thing, little insect,
live here in the winters because it is
cold further north, but even in the
summers l live far. far South, for
like heat and not mere warmth.
"'In a little while now / will be
moving to my summer hOme-but ii
will be few months still and in the
meantime l will enjoy the scenery
around these partS-and the insects
as well.
"'Ah, I'm a wise bird. l didn't eat
you when l had had enough though
still could eat more. | waited until
had worked up an appetite once more
/ have had a good talk. Now | am
hungry Now 1 will enjoy a dish OF
afternoon insect, though I won't bother
whether it is afternoon or not-for
believe, truly, it is still morning. But
l will enjoy you. little insect
And the insect heard no more for
he had been swallowed by the Fly