Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1896 — BIRD CATCHING. [ARTICLE]

BIRD CATCHING.

The Natives of India the Most Expert In the World. . There is some tiling almost supernatural about the dexterity of the natives of India. A bird is seen perched on some overhanging bough. Very vzell, then. The native, '-with his catlike tread, creeps underneath and takes up his position, motionless, breathless, a living statue crouching down among the grass. In his ihands are a bundle of reeds, one of which is tipped witji bird lime. To tills he adds another at the lower end, and another and another. Slowly the rods grow, so slowly that the unsuspecting victim does hot notice that every sec-.-nd it is creeping nearer and nearer. Length after length is joined, until the bird, sees for the first time a tall reed quivering slightly in the breeze. There is nothing terrifying in this. The next instant the reed flutters against the gay plumage of the victim and the waitingTndian springs to- his feet with a qry of exultation. As a rule, however, the bird is soon released again. The native carries his treasure into the town, and finds out one by whose religion the lives of birds are sacred. He then demands the little creature’s ransom with. a. threat that unless inimediately paid the bird shall be killed. The bargain concluded, he lets the frightened creature go, .pockets the ..money and sets to work to capture it again.