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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1913)
BED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, OHIEF K . 11! I i it ,(1 if m I ?A a BIRD TFWT FIG BURROWING P 4 CI J-BWy HIS splendid bird In undoubtedly tho tnoHt powerful hawk met with In Montiuui, where It Is UBually called eagle, nnd Itn carrying power Ih rotnarkablo, oh tho bo quel will ehow. It does no harm, but, on tho contrary, wuroh un cctiHlng warfaro against such pests as pralrlo dogs, gophers and moudow mlco, and should, therefore,, bo universally protect ed;, nevertheless It has unfortu nately become very scarce, ox ceptlnK In one or two favored localities, where It I strictly preserved. Although a good deal has Leon written about the ferruginous rough-leg (Archlbuteo ferruglneiiB), I am not aware that It hu, hitherto, been studied or photographed at the nest. Last summer Mr. V. It. Kclton kept four nests of this hawk under observation for me, and visited them whenever his work allowed him time, writes B. 8. Cameron In Country Life. Theso four nosts woro within n radhiH of four mlloH from Mr. Fulton's headquarters at tho Square Ilutto ranch in Chouteau county, and others wero reported sovon iiiIIcb away. besides the above, Mr. Fulton found four disused, but well preserved, eyries two of them within n Quarter of a mllo of an occupied nest. All eight nests were placed upon rocky ledgus or pointB. They wore constructed of tho same materials, which consisted of Bago brush nnd greasewood sticks, with some soapweed Intermixed, nnd lined with dry cow dung. As will be seen from tho meas urements, the loose pile of sticks inado the new aosta remarkably high, but they settled consider ably before the young had flown. A brlof his tory of one of these nests condensed from Mr. Felton's notes Is as follows: The nest was only two miles north of the Square Hutto ranch, oaslly visible from there through powerful binoculars, utfiwas visited almost every day. This partlcu- QC TfjZ&gf- w riiJH II JJm -,",k a.. 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JNbbbV S A.mmmmmmmmmm " AIHl Wr J) sLs2&ks? y ttfZl&3iZrK7d CSROZCR&DJ&Ttr-- lax uest was picturesquely situated on a rocky point of tho "Chalk Cliffs" northeast of tho geo logically famous "Square nutto," which, despite Its modest namo, Is an Immense rock constitut ing an Isolated spur of the Illghwood mountains, 1,600 feet above the pralrlo. In reality tho bo called "Chalk Cliffs" conBlst or nn outcrop of white sandstone, chiefly In tho center of a range of grass-covered hills whoso green summits rlso In strong contrast above tho white corrugated rocks. This sandstone stratum ImB been worn Into series of perpendicular cliffs, pure white above, but stained light brown below by llgultlc matter, and projecting spurs are carved Into fan tastic plnnncleB and mounds. Ono promontory In particular is a regular saw-tooth rldgo. The nest here shown Is poised upon tho apex of a pil lar which terminates a knife-bladp projection 3,575 feet high, nnd BUggeBtB in some' photographs the prow of a ship. As there Is a sheer vertical descent on threo sides, and tho surface of the connecting rldgn suddenly breaks off, leaving a wldo flssuro in the rock between It nnd the noat. It is a task of no small difficulty to rench tho lat ter and ono best suited to a sailor or n cat. It can only bo accomplished by approaching the eyrlo from nbovo, and then crawling along the lodge, when, by dropping Into and crossing tho gap (which is well shown In tho photogrnph), tho nest can bo attained. Mr. Folton, making light of the danger, climbed frequently to the nest, and made numerous exposures with n small camera at tho rongo of a few feet. Tho nest was four feet fn height and threo nnd a half feet in diameter, and was higher than any Montana eyries of the golden eagle known to mo, which species has also nested. In the "Chalk Cliffs." (In his recently published "History of the Birds of Colorado," Mr. W. L. Sclator mentions a golden eaglo's nest which measured "six feet In diame ter and nine feet high.") The hawks carried green alfalfa to the nest for decorative purposes, ad Mr. Felton noticed a fresh supply there on three separate occasions. When found on May IB the eyrie contained three newly hatched young, but only two reached maturity, as one of the nestlings disappeared on July 9 when fifty-two days old. Mr. Felton conjectured that It had been blown out or the nest by a violent thunder storm, but the two stronger birds might have ejected their weaker brother. In any event, the outcast would soon have been picked up by some four-footed or winged marauder. Tho two re malaing fledglings permanently left their nest on July 25, when about nine weeks old. While watching at this nest, at two o'clock ono after noon, Mr. Folton observed a great horned owl flying along the cliff face in an easterly direction. Tho owl passed close to the nestlings, when one of tho snaring hawks, presumably tho female, was seen to swoop at and strike tho interloper, which thereupon dived obllquoly to tho ground. The hawk mado two more dashes at the sitting owl, and n short squabblo onBuod each time between tho birds; but when Mr. Felton reached tho place, tho owl was nowhero to bo soon, nnd tho hawk had returned to her nestlings. As the groat horned owl Is a powerful and ferocious bird, which even attacks and eats large hawks (see Fisher, "Hawks and Owls of tho United Statos," page 175), It undoubtedly beat off its assailant without difficulty. So far as I have observed In eastern Montana, tho ferruginous rough leg feeds cliloity up on prnirlo dogs and meadow mice, though not averse to snakes. In my opin ion It never takes frogs. Like golden eagles, these hawks often hunt amicably in pairs, and then appear to be more courageous, attack ing mammals as largo ns Jackrabblts. Mr. Felton mado many vuluable ob servations on the food habits of these hawks during the nesting season, and discovered tho fact, new to science, that they prey upon birds as well as on mammals. Over tho whole courso of his observations until the young birds had flown, pralrlo dogs wero found largely to ex ceed all other diet; but until tho nestlings were about two weeks old, their food consisted partly of meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta). While very little food was found In tho nest, taking into consideration tho frequent visits paid to it, there wero seen altogether nine pralrlo dogs, one cotton-tall rabbit, two bull snakes (ono 31 inches long) uml some remains of sharp-tailed grousa and meadowlarks. On two separate occasions, whllo Mr. Felton kept watch near tho eyrie, tho wary fomalo frequently passed and repassed over head with a mendowlark In her tnlous, as subse quently identified. The bill of faro at all four eyries was similar, and meadowlarks, as demon strated by their down and feathers, wero pro vided for tho nestlings. The following Interest ing collection of remnants was scon at ono nest: Four pinlrle dog skulls, the skeletons of two bull snakes (ono of them being very lurgo), tho leg of u sharp-tailed grouso, tho wing ntul, scapu lars of a magpie nnd tho primaries of a meadow lark. Grouse nnd magpie remains woro not found until July 17 and 21, nnd wero proved by tho feathers to belong to young birds. To tho host of my knowledge, this species never attempts to take poultry of any kind, and my own observat ions are strongly confirmed by Mr. W. P. Sulli van, for lfi yearH manager of Mr. Mllner's beau tiful Squaro Hutte ranch, whero theso hawks havo always been protected on account of the numer ous gophers (Thomomys) which they destroy. As above narrated, several pair breed annually upon the ranch, and are constantly flying around the buildings, yet no chickens have ever been molested. Mr. Sullivan, who is a close observer of nature, considers that, after tho young can fly In the fall, theso hawks subsist chiefly upon gophers, and he has described to mo their meth ods of capturing them as follows: "I have watched the hawks often through glasses In our alfalfa field after the first crop has been taken off. Tho pocket gophers get pretty busy tunneling, and pushing all the loose damp earth up In piles on tho surface. The hawks fly slowly over the fleld until they discover a fresh pile of damp earth. Hero thoy will alight softly, and wait for tho gopher to push close to th surface. They will then spread their wings and, rising a few feet in the air, come down stiff-legged into the loose earth, when tho gopher Is transfixed and brought out. I havo seen them eat tho gopher where caught, and at other times carry it away." In tho summer of 1903 about an aero of ground at the Squaro nutto ranch wos covered with piles of building material, such as lumber, posts and heavy shed tlmbors, which had been collected there the previous year. Numbers of cotton-tail rabbits lived under these piles, and provided an occasional meal, both for tho hawks nnd for tho ranch cat, which was a female tabby. On a certain day Mr. Mllnor (owner or tho ranch) hap pened to bo engaged in conversation with Mr.' Sullivan near a pllo of posts, upon which' tho cat was basking In tho sun with one eye open for a chance rabbit, as usual. A ferruginous arr tt&i&ofc-ozr?' rough-leg, with nestlings in the white cliffs, was gyrating low over the build Ings, but neither tho gentlemen nor the cat took particular notice of this familiar sight Both men were, however, sud denly startled by a loud whirring noise, when to their Intense surprise they saw that the hawk had lifted the now be wildered and struggling cat from her couch on the posts and was slowly bearing her aloft. It seemed at first to the astonished spectators as though the hawk would actually succeed in dis posing or this troublesomo quarry, since it con tinued to rise easily with Its burden to a height of nbout 25 feet, ny this time, however, tho fully arouse'd victim was stirred to a desperate effort, and it became clear that, the audacious hawk had "bitten off more than It could chew." In Mr. Sul livan's words, tho tabby "twisted round, gave a terrlblo splutter und scream, and clawed the hawk with a vengeance." The latter, flapping wildly, at onco relaxod Its grip, while pussy, noth ing loth, withdrew her claws, fell to tho ground and dashed under the posts. Numerous downy feathers floating gently to tho ground convinced tho onlookers that tho chagrined hawk had none the beBt of the encounter. Temporarily tired of cats, It now soared to a great height, and re turned with empty talons to the "chalk cliffs." The cat In question was a very small one, and Montana cats aro notably thin In summer; but, allowing for these factB, tho victim must havo weighed six pounds at least. Nevertheless, Mr. Sullivan feels sure that had the cat behaved like tho rabbit for whltih she was mistaken, tho hawk would successfully have convoyed tho quarry to its eyrie In tho rocks. As tho nest was two miles distant this would seem an extraordinary feat, and presumably transcend any hitherto published records of tho kind. I quite admit that under favorablo conditions of wind the female hawk might transport n flvo or six-pound Jackrabblt to tho eyrie; but that any cat-lifting hawk should ever surpass what this one achloved seems to mo improbable. The dexterous application of tho cat's raking claws would not fall to prevent It ns In tho above remarkable Instance. Whore a rabbit succumbs to the shock nnd the hawk's constricting grip, the agile and wiry felino, on tho other hand, Is stimulated to offer a desper ate resistance, and, like Mr. Sullivan's protege, In llttlo tho worso for the encounter. It cannot bo told whether tho hawk was mistrustful of rab bits after this event, but tho cat became so sus picious of a flying object that she would race for the wood pile If Mr. Sullivan throw his hut Into tho air. , MTDNATIONAL SiiNDirscnooL Lesson (By K. O. 8HMKU9, Director of Evening Department, Tho Moody lllble InstltuU, Chicago.) LESSON FOR DECEMBER 7 A Thoughtful Wife "Where's my new meerschaum pipe?" asked Mr. CutiiBo, after dinner. "I thought I left it on the mnntol, back of tho clock, when I quit smoking last night." "Didn't hear you say that It would take a long time to color that pipe, dear?" asked Mrs. Cumso. "It Is quite likely you did. The operation can not bo porformed all at once. But where is the pipe?" "You know bow anxious I am to save you all the work I can, dear?" "Yes, just like the precious little woman you are; but what has that to do with the pipe?" "Just this, love. I got to worrying over the long time It would take you to get it colored, and 1 won dered if I couldn't help you a bit." "What! You don't mean to say you have been smoking the pipe yourself?" "Oh, no! But a poor tramp came to the bouse this morning. He was smoking the forlornest lit tle bit of a pipe, and " "Go on!" commanded Mr. Cumso In a constrain ed voice, trying to keep calm. "You have made him a present of my meerschaum, I suppose?" "Oh, no! Your little wife Isn't quite so foolish as all that." "Then what has the tramp to do with the pipe?" "Don't bo impatient, dear, and I'll tell you. I re membered what you said about the long time It would tako you to color It, and so I asked the man if ho would smoko It all day for a dollar. He said no; that a dollar and a quarter was the lowest he could do It for. So I told htm I'd pay him that He's out In the back yard now. working hard: and lie really Bnemn in nnlnv it. Yf nuno nnnnla qov i that tramps can't be Induced to work. But where aro you going, love? Not downtown so early, are you? Now I wonder what's made that man so cross?" she added, her husband slammed the door. Puck. THE FALL OF JERICHO. LESSON TICXT-Joshua 6:8-11, 14-. OOI.DKN TKXT-"A11 things aro poa ilblo to him that bclleveth."-Mark 9:23. Thero Is a wonderful teaching In the story of the two memorials (Ch. 4) that Joshua erected after Israel had passed over the Jordan. One Is left to be overwhelmed by the river, the other is erected In Gllgal. They mark the distinction between Christ's death under Judgment In the believer's place, and the believer's perfect dellveranco from Judgment. See Ps. 42:7 and 88:7; Josh. 12:31-33. The stones in tho Jordan stand typic ally for Ps. 22:1-18. In chapter five is the record of tho reproach of unbelief, "rolled away" (v. 9) tho cessation of the manqa (v. 12) and the appearance of the "cap tain of tho Lord's host" (vv. 13-15) unto Joshua rfs he was making a re connaissance before Jericho. I, God's Orders, vv. 1-5. The fame of the Israelites had preceded them (ch. .2:9) and that this was added too by the miraculous dellveranco at the Jordan is suggested in verse one. Verse two suggests that again they must proceed upon the bare word of Jehovah, and humanly speaking, bow utterly absurd appear the divine or ders. Jehovah's Word Followed. II Joshua's Instructions, w. 6-8. A reading of this section reveals the fact that Joshua diligently followed out the word of Jehovah. Preceding the people was the ark, and we need to remember what It contained and that It Is a type of Christ. Following the armed men and the priests camo the silent host (v. 10). No other sound than that of the trumpet (v. 13). The walls of Jericho are not to fall by the ubo of the ordinary imple ments of war, seo 2 Cor. 10:4, and tho resultant victory was in no way to give opportunity for human boast ing, Eph. 2:9; I Cor. 1:20-29. Joshua did not set forth a "mora reasonable method;" he did not alter God's or ders; that he had no right to do, nor have we, Rev. 22:18, 19; John 3:2; Matt. 15:6. The Implements and the methods were foolish to thoso In Jericho and to all unbelievers, see 1 Cor. 1:21-25. It was the priests who led with the "Jubilee trumpetB," typi cal of the gospel which Paul tells is the "power of Gcd,"Rom. 1:16. III. The Obedient People, vv. 9-16. One great act of distrust and dls obedlenco led to thoBe years of aim less wandering accompanied by dis comfort and resulting in death to all (save two, Caleb and Joshua) who crossed tho Red Sea with Moses. Here wo have tho contrast. Seven days of patient, obedient marching, according to specific orders, 1b fol lowed by victory and possession. What a strange sight this cavalcade must have made. The trumpet blow ing priests; the ark, symbolic of Je hovah's presence and typical ot Christ; the silent multitude. Verily this new generation Is being tested ere they enter into their promised in heritance. On the seventh day they arose earlier and were subjected to a seven-fold test. Our fiercest testing Is generally Just before the moment of our greatest victory. Saved by Faith. Faith used means ordered of God, foolish to man, and wrought a great victory. Faithful obedience Is hero wonderfully contrasted with former unfaithfulness. Joshua directs tho spies to search out Rahab and sho and her household aro saved accord ing to promise, vv. 22-25. She also was saved by faith, Ileb. 11:31, and became ono of the line from which Christ came, Matt. 1:5. Tho only part of the wall that remained stand ing was that where Rahab's house stood, vv. 22, see chapter 2:15. The teaching 1b very plain. As the Israelites depended wholly upon God, wero obedient to his orders, accepted bis discipline, held back all passion and,covetousnesB, tbey entered into the fruits of a victory that made easy many subsequent ones. Their acts of faith were a more severe test than those more visible and carnal means of fighting battles. As these people of God had crossed the Jordan, submitted to the rite of circumcision, took their first march In this land of promise and captured this walled city which stood In the way of their progress, the unbelief of forty years was rebuked. This was a day of vindication for Caleb and Joshua, a day of proving that God was able to give victory to tbe people In whom he delighted. The Golden Text Illustrates what It Is to believe, when we recall the story from which It is taken obedi ent faith In spite ot appearances. No one can deny the absurdity of a peo ple walking around the walls of a city blowing rams' horns and expect ing to possess It Faith in both of these Incidents depended upon the word of God and did the apparently foolish thing, thereby demonstrating Its wisdom, and bts power. Faith Is revealed also as the power to wait and to persist Faith Is co (operation with God In the accompUab jnent of bis purposes. Classified Malt. "Good morning," the young woman snld as she stepped to tho window at tho Euclid Village postoflicc. "Is there a letter for mo todny?" "I'll look," tho clerk answered. Tho young woman blushed a little, and sho ndded, "It's a busluoss let ter." Tho mnn insldo the window took up a handful of letters nnd iookod them over hastily. Then ho Informed the customer that thero was nothing for her; and with great disappointment depicted on her lovely features, she went away sho soon came back, this tlmo blushing more furiously than be fore. "I I deceived you," sho stammered. "It It wasn't a business letter I was expecting. Will you plcaso boo If there Is something for me among tho love letters?" SUFFERED FOR 25 YEARS. la PS Mr. R. M. Fleenor, R, F. D. 39, Otter beln, Ind., writes: "I had been a suffer er from Kidney Trouble for about 28 years. I finally got so bad that I had to quit work, and doctors failed to do me any good. I kept getting worse all the time, and it at last turned to Inflamma tion of the Bladder, and I had given up nil hope, when one day I received your llttlo hnnklnt orlvor. R. M. Fleenor. tlslng your pITTfl, and resolved to try them. I did, and took only two boxes, and I am now sound and well. I regard my cure as remark able. I can recommend Oodd's Kidney Pills to any one who 1b suffering from Kidney Trouble as I was." Write to Mr. Fleenor about this wonderful remedy. Oodd's Kidney Pills, 60c. per box at your dealer or Dodd's Medicine Co., Buffalo. N. Y. Write for Household Hints, also music of National Anthem (English and German words) and reel pes for dainty dishes. Ail 3 sent free. AdT. Telephone Memorandum. A little combination pad and tele phone list that may be attached di rectly to tho instrument is a new and handy contrivance. A thick pad cov ered with leather has a spring holder at the top which slips around tho re ceiver nnd holds tho pad firmly in place. Attached to brass rings on the pad is u set of ruled cards with a thumb Index arranged alphabetically for tho list of telephone numbers, and on top of these, mounted on a silk-covered bonrd, Is a llttlo memo randum pad containing about 100 sheets with a load pencil in a little holder at the top. Tho memorandum sheets can ho renewed, as tho ploce of cardboard at the back fits into a Blit In tho silk covering. Q. E. D. "Ten years ago," said tho professor of mathematics, "I killed a fly that had got into my office. If I hadn't killed that fly, she would certainly have laid fifteen hundred eggs. From these eggs would havo como other tiles, who would in turn havo increased and mul tiplied so that by now wo should have 550,637,841,29G moro flies. Obviously thoy would havo mado llfo an inferno. Therefore, it Is certain that by tho kill ing or that fly I did tho world a great service." Now York Evening 1'osU Overdid It. "So she married him to reform him. And what is the result?' "Ho'h so good now that ho's shock ed by tho gowns sho wears." During two years 34,000 of Im proved ronds wero constructed in this country, which is moro than all tho roads of Franco. WIFE WON Husband Finally Convinced. Some people aro wlso enough to try new foods and beverages and then generous enough to give others tbe benefit of their experience. A wife writes: "No slave in chains, it Bcemed to me, was more helpless than I, a coffee captive. Yet thero woro Innumerable warnings waking from a troubled sleep with a feeling of suffocation, at times dizzy and out of breath, attacks ot palpitation of the heart that fright ened me. (Tea Is Just as injurious as coffee because it contains caffeine, the same drug found in coffee.) "At last my nervous system was so disarranged that my physician ordered 'no more coffee.' I capitulated, "Determined to give Postum a fair trial, I prepared it according to direc tions on the pkg., obtaining a dark brown liquid with a rich snappy fla vour similar to coffee. When cream and sugar were added, it was not only good but delicious. "Noting Its beneficial effects in me tbe rest ot the family adopted it all .except my husband, who would not ad' mlt that coffee hurt him. Several weeks elapsed during which I drank Postum two or three times a day. when, to my surprise, my husband said: 'I have decided to drink Postum. Your Improvement is so apparent- you have such fine color that I pro pose to give credit where credit Is due,' And now we are coffee-slaves no longer." Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. Read "The Road to Well ville," In pkgs. Postum now comes In two forms: Regular Postum must be boiled. Instant Postum is a solublo powder. A teaBpoonful dissolves quickly In a cup of hot water and, with cron n and sugar, makes a delicious bororage Instantly. Grocers sell both kinds. "There's a Reason" for Postum i v .. A 4 ftwiliAf a-- - ,- ,-,