1 88 



Usefulness of Birds. 



sometimes seven feet high and twenty feet across. The 

 heat of the interior of this is said to reach sometimes 

 ninety-five degrees. 



54. In this mound the birds make holes, in which they 

 deposit their eggs, and leave them there to be hatched out 

 by this internal heat. 



55. Our domestic fowls, as well as many other birds/ 

 supply us with food. Others supply us with feathers for 

 our pillows; others give us pens to write with. In some 

 places men train hawks to catch other birds for them, and 



some large hawks are trained 

 to kill even gazelles and small 

 deer. 



56. Birds also give men much 

 amusement by the various 

 tricks they are taught. Par- 

 rots and some other birds can 

 be taught to pronounce words, 

 and can be made to repeat 

 whole sentences so naturally as 

 to startle and surprise those 

 people who hear them. 



57. Birds are very use- 

 ful to us, not only for food 

 and their beautiful feath- 

 Parrot. ers> but also for destroy- 



ing insects which would do great damage to 

 trees and plants. They also devour snakes, 

 lizards, etc. 



58. The SERPENT BIRD of Africa will attack a large 

 snake, making use of one of his strong wings as a shield 

 and of the other as a weapon, with which he inflicts blow 

 after blow until the reptile is overcome. 



