The American
government,
{in
studying
the migratory
habits} {of
birds}, bands
them
{with
a metal strip} inscribed:
/
"Notify Fish
& Wild Life Service,
{Washington, D.C.)" / The
bands
used to read,
"Washington Biological Survey,"
abbreviated
{to
"Wash.
Biol. Surv."} /
The
inscription was
changed {to the present one}shortly
[after a farmer
shot
a
crow
and
disgustedly
wrote
the U.S.
government:]
/ "Dear Sirs
(Direct Address Note
#1): I shot
one {of your
pet crows}the other day
(NuA) and followed
the
instructions
attached {to
it} and surved
it. /
It was
turrible.
/ You
should stop trying
to fool the
people
{with things} {like that}."
/
Baude's Handbook of Humor for All Occasions.
Compiled by Jacob M. Braude.
Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1958. p.122.
|