The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1930-05-02

noise struck our ears, and put is
instantly on the alert, because it
appeared like the dull humping
sound of a muffled drum, and re-
minded us of the possible pres
ence of savages.
With the greatest caution we
drew nearer the sound, concealing
ourselves among the low bushes
and thick grass and creepers, until
we reached an open glade; where
standing on an old PROSTATE log,
was a beautiful bird, about the
size of a cock, of a rich chestnut
brown color, finely notified with
tufts of velvety black feathers,
CLOSED with green. He was ruff
fling his wings, erecting his tail
and neck feathers, strutting and
wheeling about in a most strange
and stately fashion. After man
euvering for some time in this
manner, greatly to the e%dification
of a party of birds resembling
him, but without any ruff, who as
sembled round the stump, were
enjoying his performances, he
spread out his tail like a fan,
stiffened his wings, and began to
with them in short, rapid
beats, faster and faster, until a
sound like very distant
thunder was produced, and the
whirring wings enveloped him as
in a cloud. This was the drum
ming noise which had alarmed us,
Increased, as | imagine, by the
wing strokes falling at times on
he decayed and hollow stump on
which the curious pantomime was
/ was watching it with the ut
most interest, when a shot from
me was fired, and in a
moment the play was at an end;
ny over-hasty son had changed
he pretty comedy into a sad and
ieedless tragedy. The enthusiastic
fell dead from his perch,
nd the crowd of admiring COM
anions fled in dismay.
The cruel interruption of this
so rare and remarkable an
Dyed me extremely, and / blamed
ritz for firing without my leave. :
felt sure the bird was the ruffed {
rouse, and a very fine specimen. s
Te placed it on the ass, which {
as patiently awaiting u return, i
nd went on our way.
The sIedge was quite safe where |
had left it; it was early in the ,
ay, and l resolved to explore as !
had intended, the line of cliff \
nd rocky hills, which, at more or \
SIS distance from the seashore,
the whole length coast 4
lown or visible to us. n
l desired to discover an opening,
any existed, by which to pene- il
ate the interior of the country,
to ascertain positively that we b
ere walled in and isolated on a
is portion of the coast.
Leaving Calabash Wood behind a
!, we advanced over ground COW d
ed with manioc, potatoes, and
any plants unknown to us, pleas
t streamlets watered the fruit N
| soil. and the view on all sides
IS open and agreeable. II
Some bushes attracted my no. V
e, loaded with small white ber- +
s. Of peculiar appearance like e
TX, and very sticky when pluck
i. | recognized in this a plant is
He'd by botanists Myrica ceri M
"a, and with much pleasure ex-
aimed to Fritz that, by melting f.
d straining these berries, we /.
ght easily succeed in making
ndles, and afford very great sat
action to the mother, who did
t at all approve of having to lay
r work aside and retire to rest
!, moment the sun set. The
senish wax to be obtained would
more brittle than beeswax, but
uld burn very fairly, and diff
e an agreeable perfume. Hav-
the ass with us, we lost no
le in gathering berries enough
fill one of the large canvas bags
carried, and We then continued
: route. 4
Jery soon we met with another
.ural curiosity, the curious ap- /
satinued on page y