Marvels of the Universe 



attendant, holding the precious tail up and well clear of 

 the ground, following his wanderings. As a great treat 

 the bird is washed in warm water about once a month 

 and carefully dried by being exposed to the sun in some 

 elevated spot — the ridge of a house for preference — 

 so that the long tail may rest on the slope of the 

 roof. 



Rice is the chief article of diet, varied with occasional 

 green vegetables. Plenty of water must be given him 

 to drink. 



When travelling, a special long bo.\ is made, fitted 

 with a separate compartment for the tail ; into this he 

 is neatly packed, the tail rolled up in tlie second 

 division. Once the tail is damaged or the feathers 

 pulled out, it never reaches anything like its former 

 magnificence. 



The bird stands and looks much like a gamecock, 

 somewhat heavier in make. The chief points are : small 

 head and neck ; ear lobes, oval or almond-shaped ; small 

 comb, single but small and even ; beak strong and well 

 curved ; wattles must be small and neat ; very bright 

 eyes, full of life ; long neck, well curved ; long flowing 

 hackle feathers ; body nicely rounded and tapering 

 towards the tail, which can be any length, with abund- 

 ance of side hangers ; in general appearance it is like 

 a pheasant. Its colour is that of a game-fowl, but all 

 the black feathers must have the beetle-green sheen. 

 The white variety is very beautiful, with its snow-white 

 plumage, bright-red face and eyes, and beak and legs of 

 golden yellow. 



COAL AND ITS STORY 



BY E. A. M.-^RTIN, F.G.S. 



The growth of the use of coal has been distinctly pheno- 

 menal. Probably known to the few for centuries, the 

 knowledge of its existence was slow in travelling from 

 place to place, and the primitive folk who lived in close 

 proximity to its outcrops at the sides of the hills and 

 mountains, found quite sufficient for their purpose, with- 

 out any digging or other labour necessary for its ex- 

 traction. Even the early Briton who waged war on 

 Nature with flint implements found that he could warm 

 or dry himself with a fire of coals, for he has left his axes 

 imbedded in coal at Stanley, in Derbyshire. 



But to-day the yearly output of coal in this country 

 amounts to the inconceivable total of two hundred and 

 sixty-three milhons of tons, and the growth of output 





A WHITE LONG-TAFLED FOWL. 



The white birds are extremely beautiful, with 

 their snow-white plumase, bright red face and 

 eyes, and beaU and leRS of golden yellow. 



3 



