HOW COLUMBUS WAS MISLED BY PARROTS. MISSED DISCOVERY OF MAINLAND. The Fate of the Most Important Exploring Expedition in History Was Decided by a Flight of Birds. A flight of birds, coupled with a sailor's superstition, robbed Columbus of the honor of discovering the continent. When the great Italian navigator sailed westward over the unknown Atlantic, he expected to reach Zipangu (Japan). After several days' sail from Gomera, one of the Canary Islands, he became uneasy at not discovering Zipangu, which, according to his reckonings, should have been two hundred and sixteen nautical miles more to the east. After a long discussion he yielded to the opinion of Martin Alonzo Pinzon, the commander of the Pinta, and steered to the southwest. Pinzon was guided in his opinion solely by a flight of parrots, which took wing in that direction. It was good luck to follow in the wake of a flock of birds when engaged upon a voyage of discovery--a widespread superstition among Spanish seamen of that day--and this change in the great navigator's course curiously exemplifies the influence of small and apparently trivial events in the world's history. If Columbus had held to his course he would have entered the Gulf Stream, have reached Florida, and then probably have been carried to Cape Hatteras and Virginia. MORE NUTRITION IN GRASS THAN POTATOES. VALUES OF STOCK-RAISING FOODS. One Hundred Pounds of Hay Produce a Better Effect Than Six Times That Weight of Beets. The relative values of different foods in stock-raising are shown by the following table, in which the given number of pounds of the various articles named produces the same effect as one hundred pounds of hay: Beets, white 669 pounds Turnips 469 " Rye Straw 429 " Clover, red, uncured 373 " Clover, red, dry 88 " Potatoes 350 " Oat Straw 317 " Alfalfa 89 " Buckwheat 78.5 " Corn 62.5 " Oats 59 " Barley 58 " Rye 53.5 " Wheat 44.5 " Oilcake, linseed 43 " Hay, it will be seen, is rated as being more nutritious than potatoes or beets. GREAT FORCE USED TO WRITE LETTERS. ENERGY SPENT IN LITTLE WAYS. Every Time the Typewriter Key Is Pressed, Several Ounces of Manual Power Are Used.