This Just Made Me Laugh
While doing some online research for something, I came across an archived article from the New York Times dated September 20, 1896:
A young South American bittern fell exhausted in the rear yard of 411 West Thirty-third Street yesterday. August and Willie Schramm, two boys who live at that number, caught the bird. It fought desperately with its sharp claws and bill and uttered a sound which resembled closely that made by an alarm clock going off inside a box.
The boys put the bird into a box, which they tied securely with twine. They then took the bittern to the Central Park Menagerie and turned it over to Director Smith. It was placed in the pigeon house, where it immediately assume its habitual attitude of quiet watchfulness.
The South American bittern when at home makes relentless warfare on fish and birds of its own size and smaller, which it devours greedily. It is very difficult to raise in captivity.
Boy, they don't write up natural history reports like that anymore! Just looking around at my own personal bird library and online resources, I admire the ability to id an off course South American bittern in the 1890s.
A young South American bittern fell exhausted in the rear yard of 411 West Thirty-third Street yesterday. August and Willie Schramm, two boys who live at that number, caught the bird. It fought desperately with its sharp claws and bill and uttered a sound which resembled closely that made by an alarm clock going off inside a box.
The boys put the bird into a box, which they tied securely with twine. They then took the bittern to the Central Park Menagerie and turned it over to Director Smith. It was placed in the pigeon house, where it immediately assume its habitual attitude of quiet watchfulness.
The South American bittern when at home makes relentless warfare on fish and birds of its own size and smaller, which it devours greedily. It is very difficult to raise in captivity.
Boy, they don't write up natural history reports like that anymore! Just looking around at my own personal bird library and online resources, I admire the ability to id an off course South American bittern in the 1890s.
posted by birdchick at 3:15 PM
8 Comments:
They certainly don't write like this anymore. I stumbled upon your blog in my perusing. My husband and I love birds as well. We live in San Diego, CA. Your bird pics are so wonderful. I will be back.
great site will keep on looking from now,love the woodpeckers.
Reminds me of our friend A.C. Bent....his writings always make me feel as tho he's talking just to me with his fabulous stories. (Thanks for introducing him to me way back on your birthday!)
Happy New Year to you and NBB
Jacci in S.P. ME
It reminds me of something you'd read in the Onion, when they're making fun of the past.
Happy '08 to all! Cinnamon included, even if she doesn't approve of the new year.
I can't imagine being a birder pre-Internet. Back in the day, birders needed to really know their stuff!
The "bittern" was placed in the *pigeon house* in Central Park?
All I can say is that it's obvious that someone forgot to close the door to the pigeon house...
What a fun excerpt. Back in my journalism-school days, I read lots of very old newspapers. Articles included much more storytelling then.
Happy new fun and feathery year!
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