diff options
Diffstat (limited to '24378-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/24378-h.htm | 2182 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/001.jpg | bin | 0 -> 75519 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/002.png | bin | 0 -> 55591 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/003.png | bin | 0 -> 12240 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/004.png | bin | 0 -> 5360 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/005.png | bin | 0 -> 56877 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/006.png | bin | 0 -> 57045 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/007.png | bin | 0 -> 49311 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/008.png | bin | 0 -> 42485 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/009.png | bin | 0 -> 63338 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/010.png | bin | 0 -> 79463 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/011.png | bin | 0 -> 41078 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/012.png | bin | 0 -> 65131 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/013.png | bin | 0 -> 62177 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/014.png | bin | 0 -> 66304 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/015.png | bin | 0 -> 68312 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/016.png | bin | 0 -> 73746 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/017.png | bin | 0 -> 72229 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/018.png | bin | 0 -> 49836 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24378-h/images/019.png | bin | 0 -> 58718 bytes |
20 files changed, 2182 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/24378-h/24378-h.htm b/24378-h/24378-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e666337 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/24378-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2182 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Mamma's Stories about Birds, by Mary Elizabeth Southwell Dudley Leathley + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} + body > p {text-indent: 1.5em;} + + h1 {text-align: center; clear: both; line-height: 2.5em; word-spacing: .5em; + font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: .1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} + h2 {text-align: center; clear: both; font-weight: normal;} + + hr {width: 65%; margin: 2em auto; clear: both;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + .td1 {text-align: left; padding-right: 8em;} + .td2 {text-align: right;} + + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 94%; font-size: small; + font-style: normal; text-align: right; text-indent: 0em;} + + .blockquot {margin: .75em auto; width: 16em;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto; text-align: center; font-size: small; width: 512px;} + .figdec {margin: 4em auto; text-align: center;} + + .trans1 {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + + img {border: none;} + + a:link {text-decoration:none;} + a:visited {text-decoration:none;} + + .sp1 {letter-spacing: .6em;} + .hd1 {text-align: center; font-size: small; text-indent: 0; margin-top: 2em;} + .hd2 {text-align: center; text-indent: 0;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mamma's Stories about Birds, by +Anonymous (AKA the author of "Chickseed without Chickweed") + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mamma's Stories about Birds + +Author: Anonymous (AKA the author of "Chickseed without Chickweed") + +Release Date: January 22, 2008 [EBook #24378] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAMMA'S STORIES ABOUT BIRDS *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The University of Florida, The Internet +Archive/Children's Library) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/001.jpg" style="border: 2px solid;" width="311" height="400" alt="MAMA'S STORIES OF BIRDS." title="" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 469px;"> +<img src="images/002.png" width="469" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE EAGLE.</div> + +<hr /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 373px;"> +<img src="images/003.png" width="373" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr /> + +<h1><span class="sp1">MAMMA'S</span><br /> +STORIES ABOUT BIRDS.</h1> + +<p class="hd1">BY THE AUTHOR OF "CHICKSEED WITHOUT CHICKWEED."</p> + +<div class="figdec" style="width: 166px;"> +<img src="images/004.png" width="166" height="113" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="hd2">LONDON:<br /> +DARTON AND CO., HOLBORN HILL.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="hd2"><small>LONDON:<br /> +WILLIAM STEVENS, PRINTER, 37, BELL YARD,<br /> +TEMPLE BAR.</small></p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="hd2"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td class="td1">THE EAGLE</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE DUCK</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE QUAIL</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE ROBIN REDBREAST</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE BULLFINCH</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE ALBATROSS</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE OWL</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE GOOSE</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE MAGPIE</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE PHEASANT</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_81">81</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE FLAMINGO</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE SWAN</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE KESTREL</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE VULTURE</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE PARROT</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">THE LAPWING</td><td class="td2"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h1><span class="sp1">MAMMA'S</span><br /> +STORIES ABOUT BIRDS.</h1> + +<h2>THE EAGLE.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">The</span> Eagle is often called the King of Birds, and +therefore it is of him that we ought to speak first. +Very likely you have often seen eagles in the +Zoological Gardens, and, if so, you know what +noble looking birds they are. But they seem very +sad in their prison-houses, to which no kindness +can ever attach them. They are formed to soar +boldly to the top of some lonely mountain height,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +and there dwell far from the abode of men. And +to chain them down upon a stunted branch, within +reach of all who like to go and gaze upon them, +seems treating them unworthily. One can almost +fancy that they show by their sullen, brooding +attitude, and sparkling eyes, how much they feel +themselves degraded and out of place. I cannot +tell you that the Eagle is of any real service to +man, but every one who has been out amongst +the mountains, reckons it a fine sight if he can +catch a glimpse of one or more of these noble +birds soaring in the air. Eagles are found in +every country where there are mountains. In +Ireland, and sometimes in England and Scotland, +the large golden eagle is found, and is a very +fine bird. In America there is an eagle called +the Bird of Washington, which is so large that +its wings spread out from seven to ten feet. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +body of the bird is not so very much larger than +a goose; but, as this eagle can fly as many as 140 +miles in an hour, it wants very large strong wings +to bear it onwards. The North American Indians—you +have heard of them, have you not?—fine +handsome looking men they are, though copper-coloured; +and in former times before Columbus +first found out America, the whole of that vast +continent belonged to the Indians and had no +other inhabitants;—well, these men have a great +feeling of reverence for the eagle. They admire +him very much, because he is bold, active, watchful, +and patient in bearing with want. All these +qualities the Indians value in men, and they say +the eagle is noble above all birds because he possesses +them. But for all that they kill him, and +will watch for days to get a chance of shooting +their prize. And they think his feathers the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +very finest ornament they can wear, and on grand +occasions the chiefs deck themselves with eagles' +plumes as a sign of their rank. These feathers +are also used by them in making arrows. For +the feathers of the eagle do not get spoiled by +wet or pressure, as those of other birds would +do, but always remain firm and strong.</p> + +<p>Another eagle is called the Erne, White-tailed, +or Sea Eagle. These birds live near the sea-shore, +and feed upon fish. Their sight is so piercing +that they can mark a fish swimming far below +them as they hover over the water, and, pouncing +down, will strike their strong talons into it, and +steer themselves and their prey ashore by their +great outspread wings. The African Eagle is +said to be very generous in his disposition, and +certainly deserves to be called kingly. Although +he will not allow any large bird to dwell in peace<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +too near him, yet he never harms the little +warblers who flutter round his nest. He will +let them perch in safety upon it, and if they +are attacked by any bird of prey, he is said even +to fly to their protection.</p> + +<p>The eagle is, however, himself a bird of +prey, and is often found a very troublesome +neighbour. Hares, rabbits, poultry, nay, even +lambs have been carried off by these powerful +birds, for when excited by hunger they will +attack even those creatures which are larger +than themselves. Deer and even oxen have been +pounced upon by eagles and buffeted about the +head until they fell down quite helpless, but there +are not many instances of this kind. We are +also told of little children who have been carried +up into their nests by the old birds as food for +their young; and one very old story of the kind,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +taken from an old book in English history, I +must tell you. "Alfred, king of the West +Saxons, went out one day a hunting, and, passing +by a certain wood, heard as he supposed the +cry of an infant, from the top of a tree, and +forthwith diligently inquiring of the huntsmen +what that doleful sound could be, commanded +one of them to climb the tree, when in the +top of it was found an eagle's nest, and lo! +therein a pretty sweet-faced infant, wrapped up +in a purple mantle, and upon each arm a bracelet +of gold, a clear sign that he was born of noble +parents. Whereupon the king took charge of +him, and caused him to be baptized, and because +he was found in a nest, he gave him the name +of Nestringam, and in after time, having nobly +educated him, he advanced him to the dignity +of an earl."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>Eagles are said to be very long lived; one died +at Vienna that had lived in confinement more +than one hundred years. Their cry consists of +two notes, uttered in a loud sharp key. They +make a flat nest, formed of loose sticks, on the top +of some solitary rock where they are not likely to +be disturbed, and lay two eggs. Whilst the +young are not able to fly, they are carefully fed by +the parent birds, who are then more fierce than +usual, and forage everywhere for food, carrying +off fawns, lambs, hares, &c., never, if possible, +touching any animal already dead. Smith, in his +history of Kerry, a county in Ireland, tells us of +a poor man then living there, who got "a comfortable +subsistence for his family during a summer +of famine, out of an eagle's nest, by robbing the +eaglets of the food the old ones brought." And +lest he should lose this supply too soon, he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +clever enough to cut the wings of the young birds +when they were old enough to fly, so that the +unsuspecting parents went on feeding them much +longer than usual. Mr. Dunn says he once saw, +while shooting on Rona's Hill, a pair of skua +gulls chase and completely beat off a large sea +eagle. The gulls struck at him several times, +and at each stroke he screamed loudly, but never +offered to return the assault.</p> + +<hr /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 482px;"> +<img src="images/005.png" width="482" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE DUCK.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE DUCK.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">There</span> is so much that is interesting to tell you +about the duck, that I scarcely know where to +begin. Most of you know something of the +habits of the tame or domestic duck. But +perhaps you have never noticed its curious bill, +which is constructed so as to filter, through its +toothed edges, the soft mud in which these birds +love to dabble. The tongue of the duck is full of +nerves, so that its sense of taste is very keen, and +thus provided the bird can find out all that is +savoury to its palate in puddles, ponds, etc., and +throwing away all that is tasteless, swallow only +what it likes. Try and examine the bill of the +next duck that you see, and you will discover this +wonderful apparatus which I have described as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +acting like a filter. The duck is very capable of +affection for its owners, as the following fact will +show. A farmer's wife had a young duck, which +by some accident was deprived of its companions. +From that moment all its love seemed to centre +upon its mistress. Wherever she went the duck +followed, and that so closely, that she was in +constant fear of crushing it to death. With its +age its affections seemed to strengthen, and it +took up its abode in-doors, basking on the hearth, +and delighting in notice. After some time other +ducks were procured, and, to induce it to mix +with its natural companions, the pet duck was +driven out day by day; but there was great +difficulty in weaning it from the kind friend to +whom it had attached itself. We are told also of +some ducklings who grew so fond of a great, +savage house-dog, that though every one else was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +afraid of him, they showed no fear of his terrible +bark; but, on the first approach of danger, would +rush in a body to his side, and take shelter in his +kennel. Wild ducks, or mallards, are very +abundant in marshy places, and are a source of +great profit. They are in some parts shot by +means of a long gun which will kill at a greater +distance than usual, because the duck, besides +being very watchful and timid, has a keen sense +of smell and hearing. In other places they are +caught by decoys. These are thus contrived. +A number of ducks, trained for the purpose, are +employed to lead the wild fowl on and on through +narrow wicker channels up to a funnel net. +Hemp-seed is thrown in their way, as they +advance, by the decoy-man, whose whistle is +obeyed by the decoy-ducks, until the poor +strangers are quite entrapped.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>China is said to be a wonderful place for +rearing ducks, and, indeed, all poultry, but in +Canton many people gain a good livelihood by +bringing up ducks in particular. The eggs are +hatched in ovens, and then the young ones are +brought up by people who buy them from the +hatchers. Sometimes the heat has been too +great, and then the little ducks, even if hatched +at all, soon die. The way by which those who +buy them find out whether they are likely to live, +is by holding them up by their beaks. If the +heat has not been too great, they will sprawl out +their little wings and feet, but if hatched too +soon they hang motionless. They are fed on +boiled rice, herbs, and little fish, chopped small. +When old enough to learn to swim, they are put +under the care of a clever old duck, trained to the +business. A number of these ducks with their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +broods are sent down to the river in a sort of +floating pen. In the evening a whistle, which +the ducks well know, recalls them to the boat in +which they were sent out. The instant this is +heard the ducks come trooping in as fast as +possible, followed by their pupils. In order to +encourage them to be punctual, the first duck is +rewarded with something nice, but the last one is +whipped for its laziness. And it is said to be +very funny to see how the ducks will waddle, and +run, and fly over each other's backs, that they +may escape the punishment which they know +awaits the last straggler.</p> + +<p>As to the <i>use</i> we make of ducks, it is chiefly as +an article of food the English duck is prized. +But in the Northern regions, particularly in +Iceland, there is a bird called the eider duck, +which is much valued on account of the soft and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +beautiful down which grows upon its breast, and +is used for pillows and counterpanes, being +wonderfully light, warm and elastic. These +birds, though naturally solitary creatures, assemble +in crowds at the breeding season, and +build their nests in the roofs of the houses. +They tear away this soft down as a cradle for +their young. But the people rob the nests when +they are finished, not only once, but sometimes, +cruelly enough, a second time. For the poor +birds, finding the down gone, tear a second +supply from their loving bosoms. If the plunder +be attempted more than twice, the birds are said +to forsake the spot entirely. The eider duck has +a curious method of teaching her young ones to +swim. A few days after they are hatched she +carries them some distance from shore on her +back. Then, making a sudden dive, she leaves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +the little ones afloat and obliged to exert their +own powers. Re-appearing at a little distance, +she entices them towards her, and thus they at +once become good swimmers.</p> + +<p>Before concluding, I will relate an instance of +the sagacity often displayed by the tame or domestic +duck. It is told by a gentleman named +Mr. Saul:—</p> + +<p>"I have now a fine duck which was hatched +under a hen, there being seven young ones produced +at the time. When these ducks were about +ten days old, five of them were taken away from +beneath the hen by the rats, during the nighttime, +the rats sucking them to death and leaving +the body perfect. My duck, which escaped this +danger, now alarms all the other ducks and the +fowls in the most extraordinary manner, as soon as +rats appear in the building in which they are confined,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +whether it be in the night or the morning. +I was awakened by this duck about midnight, +and as I feared the rats were making an attack, I +got up immediately, went to the building, and +found the ducks uninjured. I then returned to +bed, supposing the rats had retreated. To my +surprise, next morning, I found that two young +ducks had been taken from beneath a hen and +sucked to death, at a very short distance from +where the older duck was sitting. On this account, +I got a young rat dog, and kept it in the +building, and when the rats approach, the duck +will rouse the dog from sleep, and as soon as the +dog starts up, the duck resettles herself."</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/006.png" width="512" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE QUAIL.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE QUAIL.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">The</span> quail is the smallest of the poultry tribe, and +is a pretty little bird, something like a partridge, +but not so large. I dare say you have sometimes +seen quails alive in a poulterer's shop, where they +are often displayed in long narrow cages, and are +sadly crowded together. The quail is a migratory +bird, except in those countries blessed with an +equable temperature, such as Italy, Portugal, etc., +where it is to be found in all seasons. In warm +weather the quail visits our island, but nearly all +those sold in London are brought from France, +where they are caught in hundreds by means of +a quail-pipe as it is called. This is a little +instrument which imitates the cry or call of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +quail so successfully that the bird is deceived, +and, following the note, is easily ensnared. +Africa is the head-quarters of quails in the +winter, but in the summer they come in vast +flocks and take up their abode in Europe and +Asia. In the Crimea and Egypt they are caught +in immense numbers whilst exhausted by their +long flight. We are told in Stade's Travels in +Turkey, that, "near Constantinople in the migrating +season, the sun is often nearly obscured by +the prodigious flights of quails, which alight on +the coasts of the Black Sea, near the Bosphorus, +and are caught by means of nets spread on high +poles, planted along the cliff, some yards from its +edge, against which the birds, exhausted by their +passage over the sea, strike themselves and fall." +The Arabs also catch quails by thousands in nets, +when they visit Egypt, about harvest time. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +observations of modern travellers have confirmed +in a very interesting manner the account given +us of quails in the Bible. Do not you remember +reading of the multitude of quails that were sent +by God as food for the children of Israel whilst +wandering in the desert, when they grew tired of +the sweet manna God had rained upon them from +heaven, and desired flesh? "They gathered the +quails," we are told, in great quantities, "and +they spread them all abroad for themselves round +about the camp."—Numbers xi. 32. This was +done in order to dry them, and this method of +preserving not only quails, but other flesh and +fish, is still followed by the Arabs. There is one +particular island off the coast of Egypt where +myriads of quails are caught, and, being stripped +of their feathers, are dried in the burning sand +for about a quarter of an hour, after which they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +are sold for as little as a penny a pound. The +crews of those vessels which in that season lie in +the adjacent harbour, have no other food allowed +them. The quails, when migrating, fly so near +the ground that they are very easily knocked +down and secured. The nest of the quail is very +simple. It consists merely of a few dried sticks +in a wheat-field, and contains from twelve to +eighteen pretty little green and brown eggs. +The quail itself is very prettily coloured with +black, chestnut, yellow, and white, and the males +have a black collar round their throats. The old +Romans would not eat the flesh of the quail, +because it feeds on the grains of a poisonous +plant. But we moderns are not so scrupulous, +and find it very delicious food. I am sorry to +tell you this little bird is so fond of fighting +that there was an old proverb, "as quarrelsome as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +quails in a cage." And the Greeks and Romans +kept quails on purpose to see them fight, as some +people did formerly (I hope not now), game-cocks. +Even to this day this is the custom in India and +China.</p> + +<p>I always like to conclude with a pretty story +for you if I can, but I can find nothing likely to +amuse you about the quail, except the following +account of the Virginian quail, related by a +gentleman residing in Canada. He "happened +to have above a hundred at one period alive, and +took much pleasure in the evening, watching their +motions where they were confined. As it grew +dusk, the birds formed themselves into coveys or +parties of twelve or fifteen in a circle, the heads +out and tails clustered in the centre. One bird +always stood guard to each party, and remained +perfectly stationary for half an hour, when, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +particular <i>cluck</i> being given, another sentinel +immediately took his place, and relieved him with +as much regularity as any garrison could boast. +It became a matter of further curiosity to observe +how they would meet the extra duty occasioned +by the havoc of the <i>cook</i>. For this also a remedy +was found, and the gentleman remarked with +admiration that, as their number decreased, the +period of watch was extended from a half to a +whole hour, in the same form, and with unfailing +regularity."</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 468px;"> +<img src="images/007.png" width="468" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE ROBIN REDBREAST.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE ROBIN REDBREAST.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">Every</span> little boy and girl well knows this pretty +little bird. His bright eyes and rosy breast +delight us even before we hear his lovely song. +And do you not remember that when the babes +in the wood were left alone, to die, by that cruel +robber, after wandering about till they were so +weary that they lay down and slept the sleep of +death, it was the Robin Redbreast who "painfully +did cover them with leaves." One would think +the robin must be very fond of little boys and +girls. One thing I am sure of, and that is that +they love him very dearly, that they delight in +the very sound of his name, that they scatter +crumbs upon the window sill for him in winter,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +and that they would not disturb his nest for all +the world.</p> + +<p>Robins are not very often to be seen in the +summer, for they fly far into the depths of woods +and lonely places to rear their young. So amongst +the chorus of sweet singers who make melody +when leaves are green it is not very common to +hear the voice of the robin, though he is said to +sing very constantly by the side of his mate, +whilst she sits upon her eggs or broods over her +young ones. But in autumn, Robin comes nearer +the abode of man, and it is difficult then in +country places to skirt a field or wander in a lane, +without seeing a brisk little bird with ruby breast +perched upon the hedgerow, pouring forth a +sweet and gentle song. This is the robin, and +we love his notes all the more at a time when +few other birds still sing. Nay, even in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +winter when, the Nightingale and many other +warblers have left our shores to spend the chilly +months in some warmer climate, the robin only +draws nearer to our homes, makes his abode +in our gardens, pecks up the crumbs at our +very doors, nay, often finds his way into our +houses, and rewards every kindness shewn to him +with the same sweet flood of song that he poured +forth amidst the woods in the days of summer. +Many very pretty stories are told of different +robins who have been tamed by kindness until +they seemed to lose almost all that fear of man +which is generally so striking in birds.</p> + +<div class="blockquot">"The birds of heaven before us fleet."</div> + +<p class="noin">I have heard of one who came to live almost +entirely in the chamber of a sick gentleman, and +grew very fond of ground rice pudding, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +was a favourite invalid dish. But the out-door +feeding of robins is not so dainty in general, and +I am sorry to tell you that, by those who have +taken pains to watch robins, and study their wild +habits, these birds are found not only to prey on +live worms, which is natural enough, but also to +spend much time and trouble to prepare the poor +things for food, in a way that must be any thing +but agreeable to the victims. For the robin +does not eat the whole worm, only the outer skin, +and, to get rid of the inner part, Mr. Robin takes +the worm in his bill and dashes it about on a +stone with great skill until he has effected his +purpose. He is also a very pugnacious bird; that +is he is very fond of fighting, I am sorry to tell +you, but such is really the case. He will not +allow other robins to build in the same bush with +him. He never joins himself in friendly company<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +with his fellows, and on occasion he can fight +very heartily: so heartily that a lady who writes +much that is delightful, of birds, and amongst +them of robins, tells the following story. She +was once sitting with a family party, when a +cat rushed in with two robins in her mouth, +which she had pounced upon in the garden whilst +they were engaged in such a desperate battle that +they did not see their enemy at hand. One head +stuck out at each side of puss's mouth, but of +course she was instantly seized and forced to let +go her prey, when both robins flew away as if not +much hurt. But for all this Robin Redbreast is a +very charming little fellow, and well deserves a +warm place in your regard.</p> + +<p>Some years ago a pair of robins took up their +abode in the parish church of Hampton, in +Warwickshire, and affixed their nest to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +church Bible as it lay on the reading desk. The +vicar would not allow the birds to be disturbed, +and, therefore, provided another Bible. Another +instance is related where a clerk, in Wiltshire, +found a robin's nest, containing two eggs, under +the Bible on the reading desk. The bird was +not disturbed, and laid four more, which were +hatched in due season. The cock-bird actually +brought food in its bill and fed the young brood +during Divine service.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;"> +<img src="images/008.png" width="425" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE BULLFINCH.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE BULLFINCH.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">Look</span> at the bright colours of this beautiful little +bird: you can scarcely find one with prettier +plumage or a sweeter note. His native song is not +very remarkable, but he is so docile, and so readily +taught to whistle different airs, that he is highly +valued. Bullfinches are common enough in our +woods and gardens, but gardeners are sad enemies +to these little birds, declaring that they spoil trees +by picking off their buds. It is, however, now +thought by intelligent persons that the only buds +destroyed by the bullfinch are those infested with +insects, so that he really confers a benefit on us +instead of doing mischief. Almost all the piping +bullfinches as they are called, kept in cages in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +this country, are brought from Germany, where +much care is devoted to their instruction in the +art of music. In their education the following +method is pursued. "The birds are taken from +the nests of wild ones when about ten days old, +and are brought up by a person who is very kind +and attentive to them, so that they very soon +grow gentle and tame. As soon as they begin to +whistle their studies commence, they being then +about two months' old. Formed into classes of +six or so, they are kept a little while hungry and +in the dark, whilst the tune they are to learn is +played over to them on a bird-organ, which has a +sort of bird-like note. Over and over again the +same air is repeated, until, one by one, the birds +begin to imitate what they hear. Directly they +do this, light is admitted, and they have a little +food given to them. By this means the birds<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +learn to think of the tune and their dinners at +the same time, and directly they hear the organ +will begin to whistle. They are then turned over +to the care of boys, whose sole business it is to go +on with their education, each boy having a +separate bird placed under his charge, and he +plays away from morning to night, or as long as +the birds can pay attention, during which time +their first teacher, or feeder, goes his rounds, +scolding or rewarding his feathered scholars by +signs and modes which he has taught them to +understand, until they become so perfect, and the +tune, whatever it may be, so imprinted on their +memory, that they will pipe it for the remainder +of their lives."</p> + +<p>Bullfinches that are perfect in their song, are +worth a great deal of money. Both the male +and female sing, but the colours of the male are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +the brightest. These birds, however, in confinement, +lose their brilliancy of hue, and, from +growing duskier and duskier, sometimes become +entirely black, as if putting on mourning for +their lost liberty. The same change has been +observed in a bird which lost its mate to whom +it had been tenderly attached. It is principally +for its power of imitation and memory that this +bird is prized. His wild notes, when loud, are +not particularly sweet, but at times are very soft +and plaintive.</p> + +<p>I will conclude with a pretty and affecting +little story of a piping bullfinch that once belonged +to Sir William Parsons. When young he was a +great musician, and had taught his bullfinch to +sing "God Save the King." On going abroad, +he committed his feathered friend to the care of +his sister, with many injunctions to be watchful +of its health and happiness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>On his return she told him the little bird had +seemed pining away, and was then very ill. +Grieved to hear this news, Sir William went at +once to the room where it was kept, and, putting +his hand into the cage, called the little creature. +It knew the voice of the dear master for whom it +had so pined and, opening its eyes and shaking +its disordered feathers, as if to do him honour, +staggered on to his finger, piped "God Save the +King," and then fell dead.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE ALBATROSS.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">This</span> is the largest of all sea-birds, and you are +not very likely to make acquaintance with him +except in a picture. For though the albatross +has been seen in our latitudes, yet the southern +seas are his native home. There he spreads his +long wings and floats over the ocean like a white +sea-king. The greater part of his feathers are +white, but the head and back are shaded with +grey. There are many kinds of albatross, but +the great Wandering Albatross, as it is called, is +the largest, and though the body is not much +bigger than that of a pelican, the wings, which +are long and narrow, have been known to measure +as much as fourteen feet across when fully expanded,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +or spread out. Must he not look a noble +bird, sailing as he does calmly round and round, +far up in the air, over those southern seas? From +the length of his wings, the albatross has some +little trouble in raising himself from the surface +of the water, where he often floats at rest. He +has to skim along half flying and half running for +some distance, until his wings are clear of the +water; then he soars away, seldom flapping his +wings, but rising, sinking, and floating through +the air, as if kept up by some internal power. +As he seldom is obliged to flap his wings he does +not get tired of flying, and can remain on the +wing for a very, very long time, pursuing his prey, +or enjoying the sailing motion through the air.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a> +<img src="images/009.png" width="512" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE ALBATROSS.</div> + +<p>The albatross feeds on fish or on smaller sea-fowl, +and is a very voracious bird; that is, he +will eat a great quantity, and devours in a greedy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +way. His chief food consists of flying-fish, as they +are called. The flying-fish is a little like the +common herring, but much prettier, for it is +covered with bright blue and silver scales, and its +fins are also a brilliant azure. It does not really +fly. That is, it has no wings, but it has very +large strong fins attached near its gills, by means +of which it can spring out of the water and dart +some distance through the air. This fish is very +nice eating, <i>particularly</i> good, and it is sought +after very eagerly by larger fish. And not only +by fish; the water-fowl who are large enough to +eat it, are always on the watch for the flying-fish, +and as the poor thing springs from the water to +enjoy the bright sunshine and fresh air, or perhaps +to escape some of its under-water foes, especially +the dolphin who is one of its deadliest enemies, +it frequently finds itself snapped up by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +albatross before it can return to its native element. +The albatross loves also to follow in the wake of +ships. For any offal or garbage thrown overboard +is welcome to its hungry maw, and sailors +do not often destroy this bird. When one is +taken, however, they hesitate not to make such +use of it as they can; and the large web feet, +when cleaned and opened, are favourite tobacco +pouches. I have one by me that was taken from +a large albatross caught on the voyage from +Australia. In Kamtschatka the albatross is caught +by the natives and made useful. For in the +summer, flocks of these birds make their way up +into the northern latitudes, as is supposed in +order to prey on the shoals of fish which migrate +thither.</p> + +<p>The albatross is caught by means of a hook +baited with a fish. The "intestines are blown<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +and used as buoys for nets, and the long hollow +wing bones as tobacco pipes," but the flesh is not +good to eat. The albatross has been seen fully +1000 miles from any shore. Its power of wing +must therefore be very great, but when tired it +can walk on the water with its strong webbed +feet, and the sound of its tread is said to be heard +at a great distance. In the breeding season the +albatross retires in company with other sea-birds, +particularly the penguin, to some rocky shore to +build its nest. The penguins' and albatrosses' +nests are always found in company, but the +penguin robs his neighbour in order to get the +scanty materials which are necessary for his own +nest. The male albatross takes turns with his +mate in hatching the young.</p> + +<p>A poor sailor once fell over board from a man-of-war +in the Southern Indian Ocean. In an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +instant he was attacked by two or three albatrosses, +and though the ship's boat was immediately +lowered to his assistance, nothing of him could be +found but his hat, which was pierced through and +through by the strong beak of the albatross, the +first blow having no doubt penetrated to his +brain and killed him.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE OWL.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">This</span> solemn looking bird is seldom to be seen by +day. It is strictly a night bird. Its eyes are +unable to endure the glare of sunshine, but are +formed for seeing in the dim twilight, or in the +soft radiance of the moon. There are at least +eighty different species of owls. This picture +resembles most nearly the Virginian Eagle Owl, +an American bird. Our common barn-door owl +has no tufts on its head. Some people are foolish +and cruel enough to persecute owls, under the +plea that they do mischief, destroy pigeon's eggs, +etc. But this is a false charge. On the contrary +they are very actively useful creatures, and the +humane naturalist, Mr. Waterton, says that "if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +this useful bird caught his food by day instead of +hunting it by night, mankind would have ocular +demonstration of its utility in thinning the +country of mice, and it would be protected and +encouraged everywhere. It would be with us +what the ibis was with the Egyptians." The +ibis is a bird that was found so useful in destroying +locusts and serpents in Egypt, that in olden times +it was made a capital crime for any one to destroy +it. Nay, the idolatrous Egyptians went further, +and not only paid divine honours to this bird, +worshipping it as a deity whilst alive, but embalmed +its body after death, and preserved it in +the form of a mummy. You may see many ibis +mummies in the Egyptian rooms of the British +Museum. Through God's goodness there is no +danger of our going quite so far as the Egyptians +even if we did do justice to the poor abused owl,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +and it is very much to be wished that people +would learn to see its valuable qualities. There +is no doubt owls are amongst the creatures given +to us by God to do us real service in keeping +down the increase of smaller animals, that would +otherwise soon over-run and destroy our food. +But as Mr. Waterton elsewhere says, prejudices +are hard to overcome, and I suppose the poor owl +will be hunted and killed, whenever he is to be +found by the ignorant, to the end of the chapter. +Some idea may be formed of the rapid clearance +an owl would make of vermin from a barn, from +the fact that, when he has young, he will bring a +mouse to the nest every twelve or fifteen minutes. +Mr. Waterton saw his barn owl fly off with a rat +he had just shot. And at another time she +plunged into the water and brought up in her +claws a fish, which she carried away to her nest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +The Barn Owl is white, and does not hoot, at +least by many this is thought to be the case. +The Brown Owl is the hooting or screech owl, +and makes a very dismal noise.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 470px;"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a> +<img src="images/010.png" width="470" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE OWL.</div> + +<p>The owl can do without drinking for a very +long time. Mr. White, of Selborne, says he +knew a Brown Owl to live a whole year without +water. The owl swallows its prey whole when +small, and afterwards brings up from its crop the +fur, bones, and other parts that cannot easily be +digested, in the form of a round cake. Hawks +are said to do the same thing.</p> + +<p>The great Virginian Owl is of an immense size, +and its cry is said to be very terrible when heard +in the lonely American forests, resembling at +times the last struggling scream of a person being +throttled. Owls will eat raw meat, but their +favourite food consists in young mice, and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +may often be seen at twilight, hunting like +sporting dogs round the meadow paths for field-mice +which come out at that hour, and going +back every five minutes or so to their nests, to see +that all is well at home.</p> + +<p>If by chance an owl appears in daylight, he is +immediately attacked by all the smaller birds, +who know their enemy, and feel pleasure in +insulting him when he cannot revenge himself. +For the owl grows so confused if he lingers +abroad till the sun has risen, that he cannot find +his way back to his nest, nor make head against +his pursuers, as he would soon do in the dim +twilight. Bird fanciers have been known to take +advantage of this circumstance in Italy, and tying +an owl to a tree in daylight, they lime all the +surrounding branches. Troops of little birds soon +find out their helpless foe, and hurrying to attack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +him with their little beaks and claws, they perch +on the limed twigs, and are taken by scores.</p> + +<p>The Snowy Owl inhabits the north of Europe, +but is sometimes seen in more southern regions. +It pursues hares, of which it is particularly fond, +and often snatches fish from the water, over which +it slowly sails, with a sudden grasp of its foot. +It often also accompanies sportsmen, that it may +share in the sport. In winter, when this owl is +fat, the Indians esteem the Snowy owl to be +good eating. Its flesh is delicately white.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE GOOSE.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">Have</span> you not often heard people say "as silly as +a goose"? Now I am going to tell you that the +goose is one of the most sensible birds we know, +and not only sensible, but very affectionate, and +exceedingly useful to man. I will tell you some +stories of Mrs. Goose presently, which will show +you her real character. But I must begin with +her uses. The goose is to be found in almost +every country, and its flesh is very good eating; +but it is principally for its feathers and quills that +it is valued here. The quills, from which our +pens, and in part our paint brushes, are made, are +plucked from the pinions of the goose, and the +best featherbeds and pillows are stuffed with her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +feathers. Geese love water and marshy places, +and Lincolnshire, which is a fenny place, is famous +for breeding them. People there make it their +business to keep perhaps as many as a thousand +geese, which, in the course of a year, will increase +seven-fold, the geese being kept in the houses, +and even bedrooms, of their owners whilst hatching, +and a person called a gozzard having the +charge of them. They are plucked, poor things, +for their feathers as often as five times a year, +and for their quills once. Even the young goslings +of six weeks' old are deprived of their tail +feathers, in order, as it is said, to accustom them +to this cruel operation. When ready for the +London market, the geese are marched slowly up +from Lincolnshire to London, in flocks of from +two to nine thousand. Being slow travellers, +they are on foot from three in the morning to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +nine in the evening, and during that time get +through about nine miles.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 488px;"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a> +<img src="images/011.png" width="488" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE GOOSE.</div> + +<p>Amongst the Romans this bird was held sacred +to Juno, their supreme heathen goddess; indeed, +it appears to have been looked upon with reverence +by all ancient nations, and not longer ago than +the time of the Crusades, a goose was carried as a +standard from our own country by an irregular +band of crusaders. Possibly in former times the +good qualities of the goose were better known +than now; for the sagacity and affection of this +bird have been proved by so many well authenticated +instances, that I am at a loss which to +select for your entertainment, and must try to +choose those you are least likely to have met with +already. As a proof of the goose's sagacity, is +the following. A goose begun to sit on six or +eight eggs, when the dairy maid, thinking she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +could hatch a larger number, put in as many duck +eggs, which could scarcely be distinguished from +the others. On visiting the nest next morning, all +the duck eggs were found put out of the nest on +the ground. They were replaced, but the next morning +were again found picked out and laid outside, +whilst the goose remained sitting on the whole of +her own eggs. Lest she should abandon the nest +altogether, she was not troubled with the strange +eggs again, but allowed to rear her own children +in peace. There are a vast number of stories told +of singular and strong attachments formed by +geese to people. We hear of one old gander who +used to lead his old blind mistress to church, graze +in the churchyard during the service (for I ought +to have told you that geese eat grass like oxen), +and then lead her home again. A goose attached +itself so strongly to its master that it forsook for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +him the society of its fellows, followed him wherever +he went, even through the crowded streets, +sat, if allowed, upon his lap, and responded with +a cry of delight to every sound of his voice. Even +to other animals the goose has been known to +show strong affection. There was once a goose +who had been saved by a dog from the ravenous +jaws of a fox. She seemed from that time to +centre all her affection on her preserver, left the +poultry yard for his side, tried to bite any one at +whom she heard him bark, and, if driven away +into the field, would sit all day at the gate from +which she could gaze on her friend. The dog at +last fell ill, but the faithful goose would not leave +him, and would have died, for want of food, at his +side had not corn been put near the kennel. The +dog died, but she would not leave the kennel, and +I am sorry to tell you that when a new dog was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +brought, very much like the old one, as she ran to +greet him, hoping it was her old friend restored, +he seized her by the neck and put an end to her +faithful life. One more story I must tell you, +though I have already said so much. A game +cock had cruelly attacked a goose on her nest, and +even pecked out one of her eyes. The gander +took his mate's part, and fought over and over +again with the enemy. One day, during his absence, +the game cock attacked the goose again, +when the gander, hearing a noise, ran up, and, +seizing the cock, dragged him into the pond +where he ducked him repeatedly until he had +made an end of him. In Russia, ganders are +taught to fight each other, and a trained gander +has been known to sell for twenty pounds.</p> + +<p>There is a very beautiful goose called the +Egyptian Goose, or goose of the Nile. Its feathers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +are very handsomely marked with black, brown, +green, and white. It is the goose so often represented, +in old fresco paintings of heathen temples, +by the ancients. This goose is famous for its +devotion to its young. The old birds will remain +with their offspring during times of most imminent +danger, refusing to save themselves and leave +their young in peril.</p> + +<p>The Canada Goose is also another prettily-marked +variety of goose. And although not a +native of this country, its migratory habits often +bring it to this shore.</p> +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 479px;"> +<img src="images/012.png" width="479" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE MAGPIE.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE MAGPIE.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">The</span> Magpie is a very pretty and cunning bird. +It is easy to teach it to speak, and it may be rendered +very tame. Where high trees abound, the +magpie chooses the very highest and most difficult +to climb for its nest. But otherwise, when secure +of not being injured, it will often build in low +bushes round about houses. This is particularly +the case in Norway and Sweden, where an idea +prevails that it is unlucky to kill them.</p> + +<p>An interesting account is given by a gentleman +of a pair of magpies that built for several successive +years in a gooseberry bush near a house in +Scotland, where there were no trees for a considerable +distance. In order to secure themselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +from cats, &c., they brought briars and thorns in +quantities all round the bush, and pulled rough +prickly sticks so closely and in such numbers in +amongst the branches, that even a man would have +found the greatest difficulty in getting at their +soft warm little abode within. The barrier all +round was more than a foot thick. They were +kindly protected by the family to whom the garden +belonged, but one day the hen magpie was ungrateful +enough to seize a little chicken, which +she carried up to the top of the house to eat; the +poor little thing screamed loudly. But the hen, +who can be brave enough when her young are in +danger, hearing the cry, flew to the rescue, and +soon obtained possession of her chick, which she +brought safely down in her beak; nor did it utter +one cry then, though I daresay mamma pinched +it sadly. I think I can find you one more pleasing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +story of the magpie. Some boys once took a +raven's nest and put it in a waggon in a cart-shed. +A magpie, whose nest they had also plundered, +hearing the young birds cry, came to them with +food, and continued to supply the little ravens +until they were given away by the boys.</p> + +<p>In Sweden, as I said before, neither the magpie +nor its eggs are ever touched, whilst Mr. Hewitson, +writing of Norway, says: "The magpie is one of +the most abundant, as well as the most interesting +of the Norwegian birds; noted for its sly, cunning +habits here, its altered demeanour there is the +more remarkable. It is upon the most familiar +terms with the inhabitants, picking close about +their doors, and sometimes walking inside their +houses. It abounds in the town of Drontheim, +making its nest upon the churches and warehouses. +We saw as many as a dozen of them at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +one time seated upon the gravestones in the +churchyard. Few farm-houses are without several +of them breeding under the eaves, their nest supported +by the spout. In some trees close to +houses their nests were several feet in depth, the +accumulation of years of undisturbed and quiet +possession."</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 494px;"> +<img src="images/013.png" width="494" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE PHEASANT.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE PHEASANT.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">This</span> beautiful bird comes originally from the +East, and takes its name from the river Phasis, +in Colchis, Asia Minor, whence it was first +brought to Europe by the Argonauts. The +pheasant is one of the most beautiful of all +fowls, and can only be rivalled by the peacock. +The shifting hues upon his neck, and the brilliant +scarlet and black around his head, strike every +beholder with admiration. Pheasants are very +good to eat, but sportsmen are not allowed to +shoot them until the 1st of October, in order +that they may have time to rear their young. +In ancient times the pheasant was held in reverence +by the heathen, and it was only on the most<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +solemn occasions that they were used as food, and +then only by the emperors of Rome. There are +no pheasants in America, and, on account of their +short wings and heavy bodies, they never fly from +one country to another. But they increase very +rapidly in number, a single pair having been +known to produce as many as 183 eggs in a +season. The sportsman, however, takes care to +keep their numbers within due limits. Their +habit of squatting or sitting so close to the earth, +has been supposed to be an instinctive act to save +themselves from the attacks of the hawk, who is +unable to master his prey, if large and strong, +near the ground, where it could offer resistance. +I have met with a story of a pheasant which +proves that this bird is very bold and courageous. +"A young lady walking alone a few miles from +Stirling (in Scotland), observed a beautiful cock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +pheasant perched on a stone by the road side. +Instead of showing timidity at her approach, he +flew down upon her, and, with spurs and beak, +began a furious assault. Being closely pursued, +and seeing no way of escape from the enraged +bird, she adopted the only alternative that was +left, namely, of seizing her adversary, whom she +carried home, but soon afterwards released; on +the door being opened, however, he went out +without any sign of fear, and, with a deliberate +step, paced backwards and forwards in front of +the house, and manifested an inclination to join +the fowls in the poultry yard. It should be remarked +that the young lady, when attacked, wore +a scarlet mantle, which probably excited the +irritability of the pheasant, as it is well known +to do that of the turkey-cock, and some other +animals."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wild pheasants feed on grain, seed, green +leaves, and insects. They have been seen as eager +as country children after the ripe blackberries in +the hedges, or, later in the year, after sloes and +haws. The root of the buttercup is also a very +favourite food of the pheasant, and they will eat +greedily of acorns. When kept in confinement, +the young birds require very careful feeding with +ants' eggs, and many other kinds of soft provision.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 508px;"> +<img src="images/014.png" width="508" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE FLAMINGO.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE FLAMINGO.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">Is</span> not this a beautiful bird, though rather singular +in its appearance? To see it in perfection +we should have to travel at least as far as Sardinia, +and possibly to Africa, its native country. Observe +its wonderfully long and slender legs. They are +so formed as to enable it to wade into morasses, +or even rivers, in quest of food, but it can also +swim, when so disposed, being perfectly web-footed. +The beak of the flamingo is not less remarkable +than its legs, and it seems puzzling, until +we know the truth, how the bird can gather up its +food from mud and water, with that awkward +turned-in bill. But the fact is, that the flamingo +feeds very differently to other birds, turning the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +back of its head to the ground, and spooning up +the mud or water in which it finds its sustenance +with the upper mandible. It is able to do this +very easily from the unusual length of its neck, +and the beak is provided with the means of filtering +the mud, as I told you that of the duck is +also. But in this instance the apparatus provided +is said to act more like the whalebone sieve possessed +by the whale. The brilliant plumage of +the flamingo is very beautiful. M. de la Marmora, +in his "Voyage to Sardinia," speaks in great admiration +of the effect produced by a flock of +flamingoes in the air. These birds are gregarious—that +is, they live in large companies, and when +returning from Africa to the borders of a lake, +which is one of their favourite haunts, near +Cagliari, all the inhabitants are attracted by the +splendour of their appearance. Like a triangular<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +band of fire in the air, they gradually come onwards, +until within sight of the lake. Poised on +the wing for an instant, they hang motionless +over the end of their weary flight; then, by a +slow circular movement, they trace a spiral descent +and range themselves like a line of soldiers in +battle array upon the borders of the lake. But no +one dares approach them more nearly, for the air +from the lake is at this season, though perfectly +harmless to the flamingo, deadly poison to a human +creature.</p> + +<p>Taught by God, the flamingo has, however, +another means of security than the malaria from +the intrusion which its brilliant colouring would +be sure to draw upon it. In other respects, besides +its red coat, it has been compared to the soldier. +When feeding or resting (which they do +on one leg, the other drawn up close to the body,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +and the head under the wing), the flamingoes are +drawn up in lines, and sentinels, very watchful +ones too, are placed to guard these shy and +cautious birds. At the first appearance of danger, +the sentinel flamingo utters a loud cry, much resembling +the sound of a trumpet, upon which the +whole flock instantly takes flight, and always in +the form of a triangle.</p> + +<p>Do not you think sitting on her eggs must be +rather cramping work for the flamingo with those +long legs? But I will tell you how cleverly she +contrives. Instead of building a nest on the +ground, where she would find it impossible to +cower closely enough over her eggs to keep them +warm, the flamingo heaps up a hill of earth so +high, that she can sit comfortably upon it with +her long legs dangling, one on each side. At the +top is a hollow just large enough to hold her two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +or three white eggs. A full-grown flamingo stands +between five and six feet high. There is another +species of this bird much smaller, called the little +flamingo. The Romans ate these birds, and +Heliogabalus, the profane Emperor, delighted in +a dish of their tongues, which are large, considering +the size of the bird. In modern times, +however, the flesh is rejected as fishy, but the +feathers are highly valued.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE SWAN.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">You</span> are no doubt well acquainted with this +beautiful bird, and have perhaps fed some of its +species, by the ornamental waters of the parks. +Or perhaps, and that is far better, you have seen +it sailing majestically down the river Thames, +free and unconfined, enjoying its perfect liberty. +The swan has been called a royal bird, being +formerly regarded as the exclusive property of +the crown, and even now there are but few +exceptions to the rule. The royal swans, that is +those belonging to the Crown, are marked in a +particular manner on the bill, and every year, on +the first Monday in August, men, now called +swan-hoppers (a corruption of the old term swan-uppers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +because they went up the river after the +swans), proceed up the Thames to mark the +young swans hatched during the year. The +Dyers' Company and the Vintners' Company also +own swans in the Thames, which were granted to +them in olden times. The Vintners' mark for +their swans is a nick or notch on each side of the +beak, from which their swans have been called, +merrily, "swans with two necks" (nicks). Perhaps +you have heard of an inn, which has a swan +with two necks as a sign; now you will understand +how it came by so strange a name.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 575px;"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a> +<img src="images/015.png" width="575" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE SWAN.</div> + +<p>The swan builds his nest of sticks near the +river side, generally amongst the reeds. If disturbed, +the male bird assumes a very warlike +attitude, and will attack the intruder with great +violence. The swan is a strong, powerful bird, +and I have heard of a boy whose arm was broken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +by a blow from a swan's wing, because he ventured +too near the nest. But when not sitting, +swans are harmless, gentle birds. They live to a +great age, feeding on coarse grass and water-weeds. +Young swans are called cygnets, and are +at first quite grey or light brown; they do not +become perfectly white until the beginning of the +third year. The swan is not a native of our +island, but comes originally from the East, and is, +when in a state of nature, migratory in its habits. +One species of wild swan, called the Hooper, or +Whistling Swan, spends the winter in warm +climates, sometimes flying as far south as Africa, +and returns in spring to Iceland, Norway, Lapland, +and Siberia. This bird is hunted eagerly +by the Icelanders for its soft white down. The +season chosen is the moulting time, when the +poor birds, having lost their quill feathers, are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +unable to fly away; and with trained dogs which +catch them by the neck, and little ponies which +ride them down, the swans are taken in great +numbers.</p> + +<p>The Black Swan is another variety, found in +Australia. Formerly this bird was considered +very rare, but now it may be seen any day in one +or other of the parks. Swans are very particular +in not allowing their neighbours to intrude on +their domains. If a strange swan comes to that +part of the river which has been already appropriated, +he is instantly pursued and compelled to +return to his own family. Once two White Swans +attacked a poor Black Swan on the lake in the +Regent's Park, and at last drove him ashore +so exhausted that he fell dead. The White +Swans kept sailing up and down to the spot +where he fell, with every feather on end, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +apparently proud of their conquest. Swans are +fond of their young, and the mother will often +carry her young ones to another part of the river +on her back. Cygnets are good to eat, and the +corporation of Norwich, who boast this treat at +their public dinners, are bound, by some old +regulation, to present the Duke of Norfolk every +year with an immense cygnet pie.</p> + +<p>The Wild Swan has a very loud call, and utters +a melancholy cry when one of the flock is killed. +The Wild Swans of Hudson's Bay furnish the +finest quills used for writing. Swans and their +eggs are still protected by several statutes, and to +steal the latter is felony.</p> + +<p>I will copy for you an instance in which a swan +once showed that wonderful instinct with which +all animals are gifted by God. "Whilst sitting +on her eggs, she was one day seen to be very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +busy, collecting weeds, grasses, and other materials +to raise her nest. A farming man was +ordered to take down half a load of haulm, with +which she most industriously elevated her nest +and eggs two feet and a half. That very night +there came down a tremendous fall of rain, which +flooded all the malt-kilns, and did great damage. +<i>Man</i> made no preparation, the <i>bird</i> did. Her +eggs were above, and only just above, the water."</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE KESTREL.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">This</span> picture represents the kestrel, one of the +smallest and most beautiful of hawks. The hawk +is a bird of prey, feeding on small birds, chickens +and mice. In order to secure his prey the hawk +holds himself suspended, as it were, in the air on +his wide spread wings, until he sees a favourable +opportunity, and then suddenly pounces down +upon his victim. Other birds well know the +predatory habits of the hawk, and when one +appears in sight they fly with loud screams of +fear. Little chickens throw themselves upon +their backs, if one hovers over the poultry yard, +from some instinctive notion of defending themselves +with their feet, whilst all the hens shriek<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +in concert, and prepare for a desperate defence. +But though so great an enemy of young poultry, +a singular instance is recorded of a hawk, which +not only sat upon the eggs of a common fowl, +but even attended with great care to the little +ones when they were hatched.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 528px;"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a> +<img src="images/016.png" width="528" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE KESTREL.</div> + +<p>Many of the different kinds of hawk were used +in olden times for a sport called hawking. That +is, they were trained to fly at game and return +with it to their masters. Large gay parties of +ladies and gentlemen used then to go out on +horseback with their hawks for a day's sport, +just as now they go for a pic-nic, or a day in the +woods. This was before guns were used. But +to this day hawking is practised in China, where +the emperor goes on "sporting excursions with +his grand falconer and a thousand of inferior +rank; every bird having a silver plate fastened to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +its foot, with the name of the falconer who has +the charge of it." The bird used on these occasions +is the species known as the Gos-hawk, which +was always with us most highly esteemed in +falconry. These birds were carried on the wrist, +bells were hung to their legs, and their heads +were hooded or covered until the moment came +for letting them fly at the game. Whilst under +training a string was fastened to them that they +might be "reclaimed," as it was called, at the +pleasure of their owners. The person, who carried +the hawk, wore gloves to protect his hand from +the sharp talons of the bird. The kestrel migrates +in autumn, going away at the same time with the +larks, which are its favourite food.</p> + +<p>The Sparrow-hawk is a larger and fiercer bird, +and the one that preys most frequently on chickens. +A gentleman once missed a great many chickens<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +from his poultry yard, and, after a little careful +watching, he found the plunderer was none other +than a large, hungry Sparrow-hawk. To catch +the thief, he ordered a net to be hung up in such +a way that the hawk in his next visit could not +fail to be entangled. The net was hung, the +thief was caught, and, in order to punish the +murderer as he deserved, the gentleman gave him +over to the tender mercies of the brood hens +whose families he had desolated. That he might +be helpless in their hands, his wings and talons +were cut, and a cork was put on his beak. The +cries and screams of the bereaved mothers were +said, by Mr. White, the charming naturalist of +Selborne, to be wonderfully expressive of rage, +fear, and revenge; they flew upon him in a body, +they "upbraided—they execrated—they insulted—they +triumphed—in a word they never desisted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +from buffeting their adversary until they had torn +him in a hundred pieces."</p> + +<p>The Hawk is very bold. Mr. P. John tells of +one that he found calmly plucking the feathers of +a large pigeon on the drawing-room floor, having +followed the poor bird through the open window +into the room and there killed it. And another +actually chased a pigeon through the glass of his +"drawing-room window, out at the other end of +the house through another window, not at all +scared by the clattering of the broken glass."</p> +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 561px;"> +<img src="images/017.png" width="561" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE VULTURE.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE VULTURE.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">This</span> strange looking bird is also a bird of prey; +but it feeds generally on dead carcases or offal. +There are several kinds of vulture. The largest +of all birds of prey is the Condor, a South American +species. There is also the King Vulture, a +native of the same country, called so not from its +size, for it is the smallest of the race, but from its +elegant plumage. Mr. Waterton, the naturalist, +relates a little story of a King Vulture, which +seems to show that, though so much smaller, this +bird is regarded with some degree of reverence by +the common vultures. He says that "the carcase +of a large snake, which he had killed in the +forest, becoming putrid, about twenty of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +common vultures came and perched in the neighbouring +trees; amongst them came also the King +of the Vultures; and he observed that none of the +common ones seemed inclined to begin breakfast +till his majesty had finished. When he had consumed +as much snake as nature informed him +would do him good, he retired to the top of a high +mora-tree, and then all the common vultures fell +to, and made a hearty meal." Mr. Waterton also +observed that the day after the planter had burnt +the trash in a cane-field, the King Vulture might +be seen feeding on the snakes, lizards, and frogs, +which had suffered in the conflagration. Indeed +the vulture is of real service in this respect, for +he clears the carrion away from the hot countries +he inhabits, which would otherwise putrify and +infect the air. In some places, as at Paramaribo, +the value of these birds, on this account, is so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +fully recognized, that they are protected by law, +a fine being imposed on him who kills one.</p> + +<p>The vulture is to be found in almost all hot +countries. A traveller in Abyssinia speaks of +having seen them hovering, as a black cloud, over +an army of soldiers, in numbers like the sands of +the sea. After a battle they come sweeping +down to feed upon the slain. Indeed they prefer +dead to living food, and must be endowed with a +wonderfully keen sense of sight or smell, the +former is thought most likely, as no sooner does +a beast of burden drop in the deserts exhausted +on the sands, than vultures begin to make their +way towards the carcase. Whence they come +none can tell, and the only probable suggestion is +that they hover at a height beyond the ken of +human eye over a passing caravan, for they are +first noticed as specks in the air above, moving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +slowly round in circles as they descend spirally +upon their prey.</p> + +<p>These birds are most voracious, gorging themselves +with as much as they can possibly contrive +to swallow. They are also very strong and +difficult to kill, one of the condors having been +known to walk about after it had been strangled +and hung on a tree with a lasso for several +minutes, and to keep on its legs after receiving +three balls from a pistol.</p> + +<p>The vulture is wonderfully fitted by nature for +the part it has to fill as "scavenger" abroad, this +being the name they often go by. It is large and +strong, so that the carcase of a horse or a buffalo +is not too much for it to attack. Its legs are +strong, but not armed with sharp claws like those +of birds that feed on living prey. Its wings are +long and wide, and its bones, though thick,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +unusually light, so that the bird can remain an +immense time poised in the highest regions of the +atmosphere. Its beak is strong and hooked, and +remarkably well formed for tearing or dividing, +and what is still more noticeable, the head and +neck which, from the disgusting nature of its food, +must often be buried in unclean carcases, are +quite, or very nearly, destitute of feathers, which, +in such a situation, would be soon covered with +dirt or blood, and could not be kept clean by the +bird's own bill. The smell of vultures is, as may +be supposed, very offensive, and they are altogether +very disagreeable birds to have anything to do +with; but they are appointed to fill a particular +office in the world, and are found invaluable in +performing it.</p> + +<p>The largest vultures are fifteen or sixteen feet +from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +even when not stretched to the utmost, and four +feet from beak to tail. Its legs are as thick as a +man's wrist, and its middle claw seven inches +long. They bring forth their young on the tops +of inaccessible rocks, in sunny regions, more than +twelve thousand feet above the level of the sea.</p> + +<p>The European Vulture dwells amongst the +Alps, but flies as far as the mountains of Africa +and Asia. It is not so large as the condor, seldom +exceeding the size of an eagle.</p> +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 494px;"> +<img src="images/018.png" width="494" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE COCKATOO (OR PARROT).</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE PARROT.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">Now</span> I have to talk to you of much prettier birds, +though, alas! to tell the truth, not half so useful +as the disgusting vulture of whom we have been +speaking. This picture represents a cockatoo, one +of the parrot tribe, of which there are at least +250 species, including, besides this, the parrot, +macaw, lory, parrakeet, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>Parrots are all, for the most part, tropical birds, +and in their native climates the most numerous +of the feathered tribes. There, amongst brilliant +creepers and dazzling sunshine, the "parrots +swing like blossoms on the trees."</p> + +<p>The foot of the parrot is formed for climbing, +being, as Linnæus would say, <i>scansorial</i>, that is, +with two toes forwards and two backwards. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +strong hooked beak is also used as a third foot in +climbing, very much as the long tail of a monkey +helps him in flinging himself from one branch to +another.</p> + +<p>They fly often in large flocks, and are killed +and eaten as food. Indeed they are so destructive +to the farmer's crops, that he kills them in self-defence. +Do you know the pretty little Australian +singing parrot, about as large as a yellow hammer, +green and gold coloured? Well, I was told by a +gentleman that he once ate part of a pudding +which contained at least thirty of these little +creatures, for each of which here one would have +to pay heavily enough, and be only too anxious to +take every care of afterwards to preserve it alive.</p> + +<p>The cockatoo is also found in New Holland, +and is chiefly remarkable for its beautiful sulphur +coloured crest. The finest macaws come from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +South America; they are larger than parrots, and +have magnificent plumage of blue, crimson, green +and yellow. Seen in their native land in large +flocks they are said to resemble a flying rainbow. +Lories are so called from their frequently repeating +the word lory. The grey African Parrot is the +best speaker, for I need not tell you how closely +almost all kinds of parrot can imitate the human +voice. None imitate so closely as this, the +plainest in its personal appearance. It seems to +take pains to learn, but prefers being taught by +children. Very many amusing stories are told of +its docility and sagacity. A very clever man +tells of one that was introduced to Prince Maurice +in a room in Brazil, where he was in company +with several Dutchmen. The bird immediately +exclaimed in the Brazilian language, "What a +company of white men is here." Being asked,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +"Who is that man?" (pointing to the Prince) it +answered, "Some general or other." When asked, +"Where do you come from?" it replied, "From +Marignan." "To whom do you belong?" +"To a Portuguese." The Prince then asked, +"What do you do there?" it answered, "I look +after the chickens." The Prince, laughing, exclaimed, +"You look after the chickens!" "Yes," +says Poll, "I can, I know very well how to do it," +clucking at the same time like a hen calling her +brood. We are told also of a parrot that learned +to repeat the Apostles' Creed quite perfectly, and +on that account was bought by a cardinal for +100 crowns.</p> + +<p>The bite of a parrot is very violent, so that +unless assured they are good tempered you will +do well not to approach a strange bird too closely. +The cause of this power in the beak is that, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +order to enable it to climb about more easily, the +upper mandible, or bone, instead of forming a +continuation as it were of the skull bone, as in +other birds, is united by a membrane which enables +it to raise or depress the beak at its pleasure. This +gives much greater force to its power of grasping. +Parrots do not build nests nor hatch young in +this country, but they thrive abundantly, and, +when well treated, show no symptoms of pining.</p> + +<p>There are some very pretty little birds of the +parrot tribe called love-birds, from their affectionate +nature. They are quite worthy of the +name, as they show the utmost tenderness for +each other, both in health and sickness.</p> + +<hr /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LAPWING.</h2> + +<p class="noin"><span class="smcap">This</span> little bird which is often called the Pewit, from +its uttering frequently a cry resembling the sound +of this word, builds its nest or rather lays its +eggs, for it builds no regular nest, amongst long +grass or heather on open downs. If any one goes +near the nest, the watchful mother, who knows +herself too weak to defend her young, tries by all +manner of artful contrivances to draw away the +stranger's attention. She will hover close to his +ear screaming, or else flutter along the ground +as if wounded and unable to fly. And when by +this means she has drawn aside the feet of the +passer-by to some distance, she will suddenly rise +in the air and return to her nest. The eggs of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +this bird are eagerly sought after as an article of +food, so she is naturally driven to try her utmost +to secure her nest from intruders. In Scotland +formerly the Lapwing was very abundant, and +there exists a curious old act of the Scotch parliament +passed before England and Scotland were +as friendly as they are now, encouraging the +destruction of the Lapwing "as an ungrateful +bird, which came to Scotland to breed, and then +returned to England to feed the enemy." Worms +are their favourite food, but being unable to pierce +the ground with their weak, short beaks they are +ingenious enough to have recourse to the expedient +of tapping on the earth with their bills. +The earth-worm, who is very sensitive of danger, +comes up in alarm from his quaking habitation, +and is instantly pounced upon by the attentive +lapwing.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 517px;"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a> +<img src="images/019.png" width="517" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +THE LAPWING.</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>This bird is easily tamed, and I will conclude +with an account of one kept by a clergyman, that +is related by Professor Rennie. "It lived chiefly +on insects, but, as the winter drew on these failed, +and necessity compelled the poor bird to approach +the house, from which it had previously remained +at a distance, and a servant, hearing its feeble cry, +as if it were asking charity, opened for it the door +of the back kitchen. It did not venture far at first, +but it became daily more familiar and emboldened +as the cold increased, till at length it actually entered +the kitchen, though already occupied by a dog and +a cat. By degrees it at length came to so good an +understanding with these animals, that it entered +regularly at nightfall, and established itself at the +chimney corner, where it remained snugly beside +them for the night; but as soon as the warmth of +spring returned, it preferred roosting in the garden,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +though it resumed its place at the chimney +corner the ensuing winter. Instead of being +afraid of its two old acquaintances, the dog and +cat, it now treated them as inferiors, and arrogated +to itself the place which it had previously obtained +by solicitation. This interesting pet was at last +choked by a bone which it had swallowed."</p> + +<p>When its eggs are laid, the pewit will fight +fiercely with any other of its species which comes +too near it. Mr. P. John saw one attack a +wounded bird which came near his nest. "The +pugnacious little fellow ran up to the intruder, +and, taking advantage of his weakness, jumped on +him, trampling upon him, and pecking at his +head, and then dragging him along the ground +as fiercely as a game-cock."</p> + +<div class="trans1"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mamma's Stories about Birds, by +Anonymous (AKA the author of "Chickseed without Chickweed") + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MAMMA'S STORIES ABOUT BIRDS *** + +***** This file should be named 24378-h.htm or 24378-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/3/7/24378/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The University of Florida, The Internet +Archive/Children's Library) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/24378-h/images/001.jpg b/24378-h/images/001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d2ba51 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/001.jpg diff --git a/24378-h/images/002.png b/24378-h/images/002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7297874 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/002.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/003.png b/24378-h/images/003.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e449da6 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/003.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/004.png b/24378-h/images/004.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3767cd3 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/004.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/005.png b/24378-h/images/005.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4af5e0e --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/005.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/006.png b/24378-h/images/006.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..db2508a --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/006.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/007.png b/24378-h/images/007.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d86873 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/007.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/008.png b/24378-h/images/008.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe58411 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/008.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/009.png b/24378-h/images/009.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f427ab2 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/009.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/010.png b/24378-h/images/010.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..45d045b --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/010.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/011.png b/24378-h/images/011.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0903cad --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/011.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/012.png b/24378-h/images/012.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d115cfa --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/012.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/013.png b/24378-h/images/013.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f30e39 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/013.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/014.png b/24378-h/images/014.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3392617 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/014.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/015.png b/24378-h/images/015.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..021e15e --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/015.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/016.png b/24378-h/images/016.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8c19a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/016.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/017.png b/24378-h/images/017.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd8cd01 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/017.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/018.png b/24378-h/images/018.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..208585f --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/018.png diff --git a/24378-h/images/019.png b/24378-h/images/019.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6458c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/24378-h/images/019.png |
