Jasper Weekly Courier, Volume 54, Number 30, Jasper, Dubois County, 3 May 1912 — Page 2

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An Intimate Song Language of the Various Featured Tribes Even Sparrows Can' Acquire the Art of Melody Some Bird Parents' Ways of Nesting The Grouse Dance Executed to a Nicety. SUPPOSE sprlnf come without the hapir of a single bird to hcralu it. Suppose the voices of all tbe feathered creatures of the air -were stilled I People, as a rule, indulge in no such suppositions, accepting of nature's generous bounty quite as a matter of course. And yet if our song birds should suddenly become extinct a Kt range void would be felt In the general scheme of things. It is the glorious month uf May. The meadow lark has reappeared bearing his message, "Spring o' the year, spring o' the year!" Gorgeous robin redbreast has come back and in his wake myriads of other winged messengers of good cheer. It Is spring, and the world is glad. The study of birds is known as ornithology. Ornithologists discovered long ago that many birds are ready 1 earners jind expressed the opinion that the feathered tribes could bo trained in song and speech. Remarkable reaulti have been accomplished. Starlings aro well known ns birds susceptible not only of learning to whistle ilmplt melodies, but ns rivals of parrot In reproducing with great distinction ihort sentences. Canary birds hur frequently been recorded as learning to whistle slmplo tunes, and there r a number of well attested accounts of their reproducing with precision short sentences. .Tay, crows and magpiM alio can bo taught. BIRDS AS IMITATORS Few people know that only wild bird, hand reared from a very early ag, are educated by man In song and patch. Tho catbird has been taught to mlralc the chirps and trills of lb companion, bluojaya have boon taught to reproduco tho song of he cardinal o well that tho listener is deceived, and European Jays havo learned from cockatooH to nay, "how do you do, pretty Polly?" and a number of whistlea and calls. Marked success has attended experiments with tho Imitation theory. A few observers havo heard wild birds Imitate tho barking of doga and mechanically produced Mounds, mich wheel, i ho ' The whir Jay, chuck, dlckilnd ' iiHinuH, hm the creaking of a a hhw and tho like. . cuckoo, bobwhlto, widow, Icllldeor and merely toll um their .io of their houkh may io tho HntUfaction of (ho be myllaht human ear. although opinion will vary mh to what thoy nay. Some nay tho guinea fowl cries "come back," others inniHt on "pot-a rack," and mill Ohorn hear only buckwheat" an Its call. Uldi hin own name, the bluojay erica phe-phay," "wake up," "como out' In moat Anorectic fashion, Tho native notea of the brown thrasher reaomblo thoo of tho mocking btrd, only thoy ar even more uweot, rapid and varied, but th mocker can cry like n hurt chicken und cku make Much clone Imitation of other birds aa to deceive not only man, but tho blrda iiIho. Hobln chirp "cheer up, cheer up," the woodpecker atopn hin hammer to cry "wlah, wish," while tho dicker naya "quleh, qulch" mid "wee chow-woo thee" like the awUhlng of willow wan or bough. The quaft m?u)h to ay, "pay thy 1ehtf pay thy dehU," in Otrmmix It m thought to cry,

Glimpse Into Birddom

"pray to God, pray to God." The bluejay calls "dearee, dear me." Bobolink sings a different song in different places. Sometimes he sajs, "be true to me. Classy, be true to me." Aggin "kick your slipper," or his Indian "quonqueedle. qnonqueedle," or "robolinkim." Farmers fancy he sometimes gives them directions about planting corn, crying, "dig a hole," "put it In," "cover it up," "stamp on It," "step along." Tho Maryland yellow throat sa3s "which way so plainly one feels like answering the inquiry. Tho cardinal grosbeak calls "what cheer, what dicer," and sometimes "hurry, hurry, hurry," in excited tones. Sometimes the Peter blrcl cries very distinctly, "whip Tom Kelly, whip Tom Kelly." There is a weather lark In Texas which says distinctly, "laziness will kill you, laziness will kill you." The goklcn crowned thrush cries, "teacher, teacher." The titmouse makes a noise resembling that of a mouse; hence Its name. The voice of tho shrike Is harsh, in keeping with his character, which Is that of a robber baron, WHAT ENVIRONMENT DOES Even with the despised sparrows headway has been made In trying to teach them to sing. Dr. Conradl, an American Investigator, conducted experiments at Chirk university, whero English sparrows were reared in the presence of canaries and entirely separated from their own kind. A canary roared a sparrow from the time It was a day old, and in tho samo room were a score of canaries. As the sparrow "grew up" and heard only the canaries sweet voices ho attempted to imitate them and eventually did quite well. Dr. Conradl placed another sparrow two weokH old In a room with tho canaries. The sparrow upon entering Ihls new environment had developed the chirp of his species, hut association with canaries kooii had tho desired effect. "At tlnU," said Dr. Connull, "hla voice was hoarse. It sounded somewhat like the voice of tho female canaries when they try to wing. Ho sang on a lower scale and failed In his efforts to reach the higher notes, Later, however, ho learned to trill In a oft. musical manner." Then tho two sparrows wero put in a room Hurrouudod by other sparrows, and after six weoka tho last vostlgo of their adopted eaiuiry nong disappeared, NESTING HABITS Some American birds havo queer methods of nesting. Notably Is this true of tho family of grebes. Home times a mass of tlnatlng grasses and sticks la choHon aa a homo, and all throughout tho season of breeding the female hIIh there on her floating home, rocked by tho ripples of the pond and Hwung by tho biw.oH. Then the young are hatched out mid tumbled into th water, mo they learn to nwlin, Tho bobolink in one of North Amadea', moat lutoreMtlujc bird. It arv)xm from tho aouth In May und, with Um mate, eatablUhe nuarUr, whan th ftftujtltt bird build a nmfi of rm

es on tho ground, which are cleverly Intwinel and often hidden among the stems of growing plants, in which are laid four or five eggs. Until mid-July the male bobolink is a faithful sentinel of the bird home, driving away such intruders as he can and especially those of his own kind. The song of the house wren is full of music and cheer. The wren loves its nest and mate and makes friends easily. Among the lighters, tiger birds, no larger than the American sparrow, but many times as pugnacious, are the only living things feared by the royal Bengal tigers of India. Gathered in flocks of thousands, they search out the ferocious beasts and give them battle in their jungle strongholds. The tiger's only escape from his Hying foes is to get into his cave or lair. MARVELOUS FLIGHTS Bird flight Is an Interesting side of ornithology. Birds fly astonishing distances. The golden plover is one of

the most remarkable travelers in tnc ,i ....Ii a i vt rinnMay to its breeding site around the north pole. The eggs arc laid on a cake of ice in .lune, and six weeks later the old bird and the chicks start south. They loiter along slowly until they reach Labrador, where thoy make a stand for some weeks, feasting' on crowherrles and becoming very fat. Suddenly all the plovers In Labrador rise as by signal and mako for the sea. Tho route Is now over the broad Atlantic, 'IO0 miles from land, southward to the Bermudas, over tho gulf, through Venezuela and Brazil, across the entire continent of South America to farott L'atagonla. The Journey comploted, the weary, emaciated travelers rost for two weeks before Blurting upon tho return trip. The route northward 1h wholly by land, over the 'Andes mountains, up tho Panama country to tho coast regions of the gulf In Toxas and Louisiana, The northward Journey to this point is made with tho most astonishing speed. SPORTS OF THEIR OWN Thero Is ovldence showing that blrda ave their sporu, and In America there h Is ono family of blrdu embracing hovoral species which really da neu. Tho dances of the grouse are not mere hopping and prancing about, llko tho crimen of Kuropo. but rather thov have llguroH of the dance, rules and' mothodH, If one be a Hudont and lover of tho blrdn, ho will know that ho nan Htumbled upon the dancing floor of tho rlIHU.I flrtltAPHllv Ml (u Hqunro, and It vartcx In kIäo according to the number of grouse that are In the vicinity. Tarrota and cockatooH vary the monotony of their II vtn with varloun plaything, being attracted particularly by objects that glltUr, mich an blta of Jewelry. Thoy will play with mich an article by tho hour and roMont Interference. LorloM, fnvorlto enge bird of the parrot family, play with on another in comical wnyx, hoppln Hid way In a circle with droll Mtun ud nodding thtir hand, rolling ovr tf uvr, NhakluK hurnU and Indulging lo lujr othr gambola,

MIDDIES' SUMMER CRUISE.

An Annapolis Event That Ranks Ahead of AN Others. When vacation time comes around the military cadets at West Point go into camp, but each year when the examinations are over at tho United States naval academy at Annapolis the middies go off on a practice shiD on a summer cruise. To the future admirals, who are now naval cadets, this cruise is an event in the academic year uneaqualed by any other. There are today on a ship of the new navy more coju forts than could be found on any of the old wooden vessels, says the St. Louis Globe-Demo crat. There is now no reefing of sails or "box hauling ship," the triple screws and quadruple expansion engines have done away with 'that, while the Dahlgren shell gun has given place to brecchloadlng rifles, After the cadets have embarked and everything on board Is shipshape the practice cruiser starts out. Going down Chesapeake bay the days are chiefly spent in drill, and the vessel comes to an anchor every night. But when the capes havo been left behind and tho open sea Is reached there is a now order of things. Tho cadets, just like bluejackets, are divided into tho starboard and the port watches, and one of these must be on dock all tho time, four hours constituting a watch. All day there are constant exorcise and drill below and aloft boat drill, sail drill, handling spars, exercise with big and little guns, practical navigation and working ship. Every phase of a sailor's life Is illustrated, and no mat ter how rough the r.oa may be or how hard the wind may blow, the cadet miiRh ho nloft and work side by side with the jack tars. When tho cruiser has been out three or four weeks it is customary to put into some northern resort, where the cadets spend some pleasant days on shore during their stay, and the change is greatly enjoyed by them. After this little rest they put to sea once more, and for several weeks buffet the ocean waves or broil under the hot sun that blazes down on the Chesapeake. Near the end of August Annapolis is reached, the crowd of bronzed and sturdy youths rush ashore, and the next train boars laughing, rolllcklug middies to their homes for thirty days' vacation. When the time has expired they return to Annapolis and resume their academic life. Memories of the Past. Square spectacles. Top pockets hi trousers. Brass toed boots. Railroad passes. Curling iron heaters. Fancy front room curtains. Embroidered wall mottoes. Candle snuffers. Plush manicure sets. Penwipers. Crayon portraits. Plated castors. Diamond shirt studs. Waxed mustaches. r Individual salt cellars. Jackknives. Negro minstrels. Nightcaps. Family prayers. Cleveland Plain Dealer. Jokes That Mere Grammar Socondary. rater What's wrong witli this sentence, Tommie? "For years us men have uncomplainingly buttoned up wo men. Tommie The word "uncomplainlnglv" ought to bo loft outHarper's Bazar. What Came of a Bad Egg. Hnnoinn Too Good For HI im. 'Dlxby slmuid be anvHtod for cruelty to mechanism." "ICh! What did he do?" "Hid a dictograph In the mooting l)lttco of brttlgo club." Cleveland Plain Dealer. A Penc Pot, Tappor-How do you get Klon well with your wife? HO Kappor-W o mado an aKromnont that nhe won UluT Interfere with my Htonoge ljho,'H lf 1 wouldn't Interfere with her cnauncuiH.-.iuuKu. " AH OfTfP AOOpt Sto-And would you really put your1,01 r 01,1 or my . lle-Indood, I would. ßhe-Thon do It, pleaHo. Tin awfully Hloopy.-Ht, Ixmln Pot-Dl8patoh. Proof Poiltlvt, Polly What make you think tMolly'H engagement la to be kept Ktwrtt? Dolly Sh told mt no htnwlf, Nxcluing. 0rrifcrttn lltkwH Borrowll in quit n rtlit W$ hM dent om pmtty good thing. rtEtti-i know iu l m on or tow.

Saving the Bank's Funds

By TESSIE I T was in the olden time when a traveler between Denver and Laramie must go in an old fashioned stagecoach. There "was one season when the coach was robbed as often as once a week. Passengers knew that there was one chance in seven of being held up on the road and traveled with little or no money on their persons. Nevertheless there was no other way of transporting valuables, and sometimes persons were obliged to take great risks It was necessary for mo to go through to Laramie on important business. I found in the coach a young lady and two miners. Tills generation cannot realize the high position of women in that uncouth country at that period. As rare and beautiful birds are protected by game laws, so were tho few women always safe in tho chivalrous sentiment of the many men. Of course we all soon got acquainted, the miners, who were of vnnnr h exterlor, leaviug tho young lady to me. The chief topic of discussion was what we would do in case of a holdup. One miner said that ho had $100 in dust in his hip pocket, with a revolver, and would draw the revolver flrst Tho other miner had $30 hidden under his shirt, and if required to surrender It at the point of a pistol he would certainly do so. The young lady, who was going east to spend the winter, had her ticket and some small bills in her pocketbook, the rest, four $100 bills, concealed in her hair. I confessed with equal frankness tüut all I had brougnc wiui me was in my vest pocket and if it was taken 1 couldn't help it. Sure enough, the holdup came. The first we knew of it the coach came to a stop and the door was flung open from the outside. Half a dozen masked men stood in the road with rifles cocked and ready for use while another held their horses. The man who opened the door ordered the passengers out and to stand in line to be searched. I was first examined and 'relieved of some $50 in my vest pocket. The miners came next. Tho man with the revolver in his hip pocket had no opportunity to use it, for we all stood hands up. He and his friend were both plundered. The robbers were rather pleased to find more than usual and after politely wishing us a pleasant journey were about to permit us to go on when one of them looking at me sharply, said: "Young man, weren't you teller in the bank when a lot of us went through it one day two years ago?" "I was." "Well, I reckon you must bo in the came business now." "I'm buying horses for the government." "Whatbuying horses with this chicken feed?" referring to the cash they had taken. "See here," I said. "You men are not so sharp as you think. I wouldn't be delayed on this trip for a gold mine. If I tell you where you can find .$400, will voa iet us go on?" At first they said that if I didn't give them tho information I should never go on and began to search the coach. Not finding anything and fearing an

Have Been Kicked Aroun'

Paying For What He Know. "By gosh, 'therj ain't no chance to rrit ahead of these swindlers," COmplained Silas llossbarnes. "What's tho matter, now?" his wue asked. "t sent $1 to ono of 'em for a receipt to keep hair from falling out, and what do you s'pose he writes?" "I can't guess." M 'Quarrel with your wlfo and git it pulled out.' "Chicago Becord-Horald. A Musical Dish. "A multimillionaire in a fashionable restaurant," said Mrs. Burton Harrison, "pointed to a lino on tho menu and said to tho waiter: "Til have some of that, please.' "Tin sorry, sir, tho Aval tor answered, 'but the baud Is playing that.' St. Louis Cllobe-Domocrat. , A Doolsion. Tht Purrot-rm ROlng to mor If that kid doenn't top ulng my cag for k baseball muHk.-Naw York World. CaniUUraMon. NtU-You r Nlmply nuking fool of young Mr. Baphudd. BtUt-Oh, wll, I'm probably only igYlng om othtr girl th trouble PhlUdiltfhU Itteortt

FOY COYNE

interruption, they assented to my terms. "You will find It in that young lady hair," I said. They at once took off the girl's hat, removed the hairpins and found th bills, which they held aloft with glee. It is many years slnco I saw the glance of contempt given me by the young lady, but it is as plain in my memory today as it was then. It was something to wound my amour propre, but the fierce glances turned upon m by tho miners indicated that when left alone with me they would end my career without beneflt either of clergy ov jury. Tho robbers, delighted with the addl-. tlon to their find acquired through my instrumentality, jumped on their horses and rode away in a hurry. The two miners watched them till tbey turned into a wood. Then the man with thü revolver slowly drew it from his hip pocket and, pointing it at me, said: "Say yer pra'rsl" "Ono moment. I" "Not a second. I'll toaGh youa yon low down dog, that no man in Oqjorao can play such a game as that on a woman." "But" "Say yer pra'rs!" thundered thi man, nervously endeavoring to keep his finger off the trigger of his pistol. It began to look as if I should be sent out of the world without an opportunity to speak a word in my defense, but the young lady Interfered. "Leave him to me," sho Bald, brushing tho pistol nsido with her hand. "He injured me, not you." The man stood Irresolute. "Give mo a chance to explain," I pleaded. "Why did you do it?" asked the girl. . "I am tho cashier of the th Na tional bank of Denver. I havo fifty $1,000 bills sewed up in my clothingl If I hadn't diverted tho attention of the robbers they would havo feot it all. Your $400 will be returned with a splendid interest. You men will each receive a handsome present, and whenever you want grubstaking while working a claim you will get it from our bank. Now let us get on ns fast as possible and save tho treasure. Something might induce the agents to return." They consented with alacrity. After t he girl reached her homo she received a certificate of stock of tho bank worth $5,000. Tho men later on were grubstaked in working a claim which they sold for a good profit. Tho Corpulent YVoodpigeon. Sir Digby Pigott in his "London Birds" states Uiat wood pidgeons appeared for the first time In London In 1S0S. The stranger were very shy and kept to the tops of the tall trees in Kensington gardens. But they hav changed all that. Nowadays the parki are literally overrun with them, Through long pampering they hav grown corpulent and lazy and so inso lent ly tame that they will hardly deign to waddle out of the way of passers by and will readily take food from a person's hand.-London Saturday Review. An Invitation Declined. "now would you like to go to a bohemian supper? Lot of literary peoplo and all that, you know." "No. The bohomians are too frco and easy for me. Last time I went they ran out of cheese and spread tho sandwiches with library paste" Louis villo Courier-Journal. Superior Opinion. "Say, Jlmmle, how many men d'yei K'PQMO lie'a ltllledr "Au, g'wanl Don't yer ne he a 9 gonoral. Generali don't do no k.lllln Dey Jet ho d Job," Chlwo American, howlng HI Hnd. WntAon Do you think young ttrow Im Aorlou In hU attention! to our daughter? MrH, Wataon Ye. I overheard htm asking her whthr you art a mmbg of th Arm or only work on alary. Untxptotid Aniwir, Wlfo I wonder what you'd aay lf t were to become a new woman and, wear meu'w clothe 7 Uubby-No fear of that. Men1 clothOH don't cont unough money.lU luatrated HU Only rult. In your huHband a gooil manr "Xm, he'a a good mau, I can't com. plain. Hut h alwaya maimka out ikm back way whvtr th aJa4ti calU'-WAthlartWA iiltral.

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