Chatterbox Stories of Natural History Part 8

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I would rather be my lady's hawk, And perch upon her hand, Than I would be the deerhound grim, To range this forest-land.

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P--THE PELICAN.

_On river banks, on sh.o.r.es of lakes, Or marge of sounding sea, The Pelican, in quest of fish, Roams uncontrolled and free._

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Q--THE QUAIL.

_When come the leaves and buds of spring Then comes the swift-winged quail: But ever quits our western lands Before the winter pale._

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R--THE RHINOCEROS.

_Down to the waterside to drink, Within the jungle's shade, Has come the huge Rhinoceros, In knotty hide arrayed._

BLACKBIRDS AND YOUNG.

A country lad having taken the nest of some blackbirds containing young ones, made off with it, but was closely pursued by the parents, who tried to peck his face so as to make him give them up. Mr. Jesse relates a similar instance, where a pair of old birds followed a boy into a house, pecking at his head while he was carrying off one of their young ones. People little think of the misery they cause when they rob the birds of their nestlings.

The bird's nest is thus described:

Now put together odds and ends, Picked up from enemies and friends: See bits of thread and bits of rag, Just like a little rubbish bag.

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A USEFUL PILOT.

There is a trained sheep kept on board a steamer plying in California.

It goes out on the gang-plank, when a flock is to be loaded, to show that the approach is safe, and to act as pilot to the flock, which readily follows it on to the boat. The sheep, when in a flock, are all alike timid, and it is difficult to find a leader among them, each being afraid to go first; but when one goes, they all follow after, so that this clever sheep is very valuable. The only other way to get a flock on board a s.h.i.+p is to catch one and drag it on board; but this is not such a good way as having the clever "Pilot."

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JACK.

The name of the bear is "Jack." I fetched him from the West India Import Dock on the 5th of November, 1870. He was running about with another bear on board s.h.i.+p, but the job was to catch him. After many attempts we at last put a strong collar round his neck, to which was attached a long chain, and then we got him into a large barrel, and fastened the head on with hoop-iron, lowered him over the side of the vessel into a boat, and then pulled to the quay, and hauled him up into a cart. For a time the little fellow was quiet enough, but he got very inquisitive when being driven toward the city, and wanted to have a look round. I managed to quiet him by giving him pieces of lump sugar. He arrived safely at the Crystal Palace, and has lived in an aviary till the beginning of last month, when he was put into his new bear-pit. The little fellow has grown twice the size he was when he first came. He is very playful, but sometimes shows his teeth when he is teased.

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S--THE SWALLOW.

_Now hovering on rapid wing, Now down to earth, now high, And, circling round in airy ring To chase the painted fly._

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T--THE TIGER.

_Fiercest of all the beasts of prey, With eyes that glow like fire, And glossy hide, who does not dread The Tiger, yet admire?_

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U--THE URSINE OPOSSUM.