A TRAGEDY OF BIRD LIFE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18447, 7 January 1922, Page 8

A TRAGEDY OF BIRD LIFE

The following remarkable occurrence is reported in a newspaper from ■ the Orange Free State. A farmer shot a large hawk which was swooping down ori his chickens, and found an arrow about 2ft Sin in length sticking through its body. The arrow had evidently boon there for. a long period, probably for some years—so long, in fact, that when it was withdrawn it was found that the centre portion had become partially rotted away by reason of the heat arid moisture of the bird’s body. Thus, although not completely broken, the arrow had become bent to an angle, and those to whom it h«o been submitted for inspection; it is stated, are. positive that the weapon was not made in the Transvaal, it being of a kind entirely, different from what is used by the natives in that part of th«J continent. The arrow was constructed from reed end tipped' with hardwood, the pointed part 1 being carved into notches, cleverly executed •in alternating points, making it the more deadly and the more difficult to extract. The butt was feathered, and the arrow junction was well bound with sinew, ■ making a weapon' both, of strength and utility. It is surmised that the hawk must have flown a long distance, probably from the interior of Africa, ■ and it is certain that it must have carriedl the arrow, protruding about 12in on either side of its body, for a .considerable period.