File:Little folks in feathers and fur, and others in neither (1875) (14597467020).jpg

Identifier: littlefolksinfea00mill (find matches)
Title: Little folks in feathers and fur, and others in neither
Year: 1875 (1870s)
Authors: (Miller, Harriet (Mann) Mrs.), 1831- (from old catalog)
Subjects: Zoology
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Dustin, Gilman & co. Cincinnati, Ohio, Queen city publishing co. (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Why he should do this nobody knows, whether to keep outenemies, or to keep the mother at her work; but we do know thathe does it. It is said that in India this bird is domesticated, because ofhis fondness for rats and mice, which he kills in great quantities. Heres another curious bill, not quite so large as the hornbills,but about as odd. It is the Spoonbill. This personage carries a bill shaped like a spoon—as you see— and about eight inches long. As you might guess from thelength of his legs, he is a wader, and gets his dinner by fishingabout in the mud of streams with that convenient bill of his, anddigging out the reptiles and small fish, and such creatures thatdelight in mud. He is also fond of visiting the seashore, andadding to his bill of fare, crabs, shrimps, and other sea food. He dresses in white, with a faint tinge of pink. His eyes arered and his legs and feet are black. His bill is yellow and black,and his length is about thirty-two inches. IN FEATHERS AND FUR. 133
Text Appearing After Image:
In some countries the curious spoon is considered valuable.It is taken off, scraped thin and polished, and set in silver, andused as a spoon. While we are looking at curious bills, here is another, theCockatoo. He is a native of Australia, and has the honor of naminghimself. His cry sounds like cock-a-too. He belongs to theparrot family, and can be taught to talk, though not very well. Hisbill, you see, is a short crooked object with a sharp cutting edge. There are several kinds of Cockatoos; that in the picture isthe Sulphur Crested, and is common in Australia. It is dressedin white, with a bright yellow crest. The bills of these pretty birdsare so hard that they delight in biting with them, breaking nutsand such things, and they are very useful in climbing about. The fan-like crest which he wears, is his great beauty. Hecan raise it or lower it as he pleases, and it makes a great changein his appearance. The White Cockatoo, and also the SulphurCrested, is greatly prized as a pet. He

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