Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1895 — Disasters to Swallows. [ARTICLE]

Disasters to Swallows.

Although swallows are such wonderfully quick-sighted birds, and can change the direction of their flight with amazing rapidity and ease, it occasionally happens that they either do not perceive the danger lying in their path or are not quick enough to avert it, for 1 have once or twice, while fly-fishing for trout, accidentally knocked down and stunned a swallow. Several instances have also been recorded of the poor bird being struck and killed by golf balls, and in one case at least, even by a cricket ball. Petrels and other sea birds have been known to collide while in midair. and drop into passing boats. Wild duck are occasionally picked up on board ships that have been lying at anchor all night in some of our large rivers and estuaries. They strike the rigging or funnels during their nocturnal flights, and as many as five were found one morning on the deck