Chatterbox Stories of Natural History Part 2

A COW WORKING A PUMP.

My informant writes me as follows: "We have a wonderful cow here--about ten years old, and very clever at opening gates and breaking fences.

There is an Abyssinnian pump about three feet high in the center of the field, near my house, over a trough, which is, or ought to be, filled daily. It was on a hot day, when my man had omitted to pump the trough full, that the cow was first observed to help herself: the way in which she managed to pump was by pushing the handle up with her head and then forcing it down with her horns. Very little elevation of the handle is required to get water, and she would work it for five minutes together, and sometimes drank from the spout, and sometimes from the trough."

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CARRIER PIGEONS.

The carrier pigeon is remarkable for the degree in which it possesses the instinct and power of returning from a distance to its accustomed home. In Eastern countries it is the practice to bathe the pigeon's feet in vinegar to keep them cool, and to prevent it from alighting in quest of water, by which the letter might sustain injury. Pigeons intended for this use must be brought from the place to which they are to return, within a short period, and must be kept in the dark and without food for at least eight hours before being let loose. The carrier pigeon was of great service during the siege of Paris in 1871, and conveyed many important messages. It goes through the air at the rate of thirty miles an hour, but has been known to fly even faster.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: THE GOLDEN EAGLE.

THE STORK.

THE VIRGINIAN HORNED OWL.

THE CRANE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE WHALE.

THE ELEPHANT.

THE WHITE RHINOCEROS.

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS, OR BEHEMOTH.]

THE SIASIN, OR ANTELOPE OF INDIA.

The Siasin, or Antelope of India, roams over the open and rocky plains of that immense country. It is distinguished from the rest of its family by the beauty and singular shape of its horns, which are annulated or ringed, and spirally convoluted or curved together, making two or more turns, according to the age of the animal. The fakirs and dervishes of India, who are enjoined by their religion from carrying swords, frequently wear at their girdles the polished horns of the siasin instead of the usual military arm. This antelope is one of the fleetest-footed of its family, and its leap is something wonderful. It is not uncommon for it to vault to the height of twelve or thirteen feet, pa.s.sing over ten or twelve yards at a single bound. In color it is almost black on the upper part of the body, and light-colored beneath.

When full grown, it is about the size of our common deer.

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THE COMMON SNIPE.

These birds frequent swampy woods, marshes, mora.s.ses, and the borders of rivers. Their usual time for seeking their food is early in the morning and during the twilight of the evening. They subsist princ.i.p.ally upon insects and worms; for these they search among the decayed leaves, and probe the mud and ooze with their lengthened bills. When alarmed, they generally lie close to the ground, or among the gra.s.s, or, suddenly starting on the wing, escape by flight, which is short but elevated, rapid, and irregular. The eggs, which are four in number, are deposited on the ground. In the snipe, and all its immediate allies, the bill is thickened, soft, and very tender at its extremity; so that this part, which is richly supplied with nerves, serves as a delicate organ of touch, and is used for searching in the soft ground for the insects and worms that const.i.tute the food of these birds.

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[Ill.u.s.tration: A VISIT TO THE MONKEYS.]

D--THE DOE.

Graceful and gentle is the Doe; Its tawny coat how sleek!

How bright yet tender are its eyes!

Its glance how softly meek!

E--THE EAGLE.

Upon the lonely mountain peak The eagle builds her nest, And there, when weary of the chase, In silence takes her rest.

F--THE FOX.

The Fox will skulk in ferny brake, Yet loves the haunts of men; And prowls around the farm, to pounce On capon, goose, or hen.

MRS. BUNNY AND FAMILY.

This wild Rabbit has been startled by some noise, and the next moment she may be scampering away to her burrow, with the little bunnies, at the top of their speed, and crouch there until all is quiet again.

Rabbits usually select, if possible, a sandy soil overgrown with furze, in which to make their burrows, as such a soil is easily removed, and the dense p.r.i.c.kly furze hides their retreat, whilst it affords them a wholesome and never-failing food. These furze bushes are constantly eaten down, as far as the rabbits can reach standing on their hind legs, and consequently present the appearance of a solid ma.s.s with the surface even and rounded. These animals retire into their burrows by day to rest, and come out only in the twilight to obtain food.

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THE LYNX.

The body of the lynx, beautifully spotted with black and brown rings, is more solid and hardy than that of the wild cat. His ears are longer, his tail is shorter, his great eyes light up like bright flames; and since he prowls about chiefly at night, he is thought to have very keen sight.

For this reason, when we wish to say that a person can see very clearly or can look beyond the outward appearance of things, we call him _lynx-eyed_. Like all cats, the lynx possesses in his mustache a very correct power of feeling. This, with the sense of hearing and sight, guides him in all his expeditions.

The lynx in the picture is in the act of springing upon a timid hare.