8 72 Dynamic Theory. 



the young. Somewhat later he was pleased to discover that the} T were 

 feeding and otherwise caring for an old and partly blind and helpless 

 companion. He caught and examined the old bird, whose feathers were 

 faded, his claws much worn, his bill dulled, the wings and tail ragged. 

 After his liberation he flew back to his companions who were waiting 

 near by in sympathetic interest. During the next eight days he observed 

 them feed him, attend him and warn him of danger, directing by their 

 voices which way to fry. They guided him regularly to a spring not 

 far off, where he daily took a bath with some of his companions always 

 standing guard. (Youths' Companion, Dec. 6, 1888.) 



Bird Courts of Justice. 1 A. tourist in the Alps saw a flock of 60 or 

 70 ravens occupying a circle, in the middle of which was one which ap- 

 peared to be on trial. There was much clatter of tongues and wings 

 by the surrounding crowd, but they paused occasionally in order to per- 

 mit the accused to reply, which he did most vociferously with intense 

 energy, but all his expostulations were speedily drowned in a chorus of 

 dissent. At last the verdict seemed to be reached, and was instantly 

 executed by the whole flock pouncing upon the unlucky culprit and tear- 

 ing him to pieces. 



Two cases are given of the punishment of female storks for supposed 

 marital infidelity. One case occurred at Smyrna. A French surgeon 

 stole all the eggs from a stork's nest and replaced them with hens' eggs. 

 After they were hatched, the male stork suddenly disappeared, return- 

 ing after two or three days accompanied by a large number of others. 

 They assembled in a circle, the supposed delinquent female in the 

 midst. After some discussion the whole flock attacked her and tore her 

 to pieces. The other case happened near Berlin. The stork's nest was 

 in a chimney of a mansion. The owner took out the solitary egg and 

 replaced it with a goose egg. The stork did not notice the change, and 

 hatched the egg. Then the male bird rose from the nest, flew around 

 several times with wild screams. He disappeared, returning in four 

 days with about 500 storks. They held a parley, one bird about 20 

 yards away apparently haranguing the rest. All this time the female 

 had remained in her nest, but in evident fear. The discussion contin- 

 ued several hours, several different birds addressing the meeting. At 

 last they broke up, and all flew toward the nest. The leader, probably 

 her husband, knocked her out of the nest, and the rest destroyed her, 

 the gosling and the nest. 



A correspondent of the London Spectator relates two anecdotes of 

 ducks, illustrating sagacity and sympathy, or, as he calls it, courtesy. 

 He had, among 50 or 60 fowls and ducks, a solitar}' little old bantam 

 hen, which became blind, and was so persecuted by its mates that it 



Popular Science Monthly, Oct., '88. 



