Show Tales About Turtles ALEXUIDRIA Mo October 18 A flock of blackbirds collected at the edge of the large pond where I was fishing one day recently There were several hundred of them and such a fluttering and mixing of voices as those happy beings made Some of the birds would wade out into several inches of water and they would dip and plunge and dive in real Grallatore style Suddenly the flock arose and flew away with the exception of one This bird was in the 1 shallow water about ten inches from the shore and it tried to fly away with its companions but could not do so being held by one foot I went across the pond having a suspicion that some treacherous reptile was the cause of the trouble Going to the bird and examine ing the source of danger 1 found a largesized snappingturtle completely hidden in the soft mud In its firm jaws it held the foot of the poor bird which would have soon been destroyed I took the turtle out on land and released the bird The turtle was in for a conflict con-flict as it belonged to the snapping variety This country has had from May 9 to September 15 the greatest drouth since the settlement of Northern Missouri The earth has not been thoroughly soaked within the recent six months After one of the late slight showers I found a common land turtle which was helpless and unable to move The sticky earth had collected in a round mass upon the front part of the turtles lower shell and had dried aud become solid The accumulation of earth had continued as long as the feet of the turtle could reach the ground The two inches of dry and firm soil rendered further progress impossible removed the hinderance and the turtle went on its way with renewed energy J B lobeDemocrat r |