June 1891.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



95 



meut cool aud assured. Then an old bird 

 steps gravely into the middle, and the meeting; 

 begins with a serie.s of guttural and harsli 

 croaks, which gradually swhII in volume until 

 the entire lot of birds have joined in the 

 debate. Along comes a dog and for him they 

 scatter, resuming their positions when he 

 passes, until the meeting again terminates, 

 and they Hy off to the beach and hills. These 

 birds are very seldom kdled unless it be by 

 some sailor in pure wantonness. If you ex- 

 amine the bills of these ravens the peculiar 

 construction is remarkable. They are a com- 

 bination of a chisel, scissors, dagger, and 

 gimlet. The bill forms an important factor in 

 the raven's existence, for he has to dig on the 

 beach for clams, bore the hard shell by re- 

 peated chipping, and again in pure mischief 

 he will tear and break anything that his bright 

 and unerring eye lights upon. 



".Just as soon as the bright sunlight api)ears 

 the ravens leave their roosting places on the 

 hilltops for the beach line, and over the vil- 

 1 ige and shores of the bay they fly and wander 

 until sundown invites thein to rest. The raven 

 is a line tiyei-. On the wing his movements 

 are well under command. With strong, de- 

 cided beats he winnows the air fast or slow, 

 never seeming in a hurry. But if occasion 

 requires the raven can travel at express speed, 

 and when he sees another bird feasting on 

 some delicate morsel of offal, down he comes 

 from mill-air with his discordant caw, ready 

 to share or steal the piize. 



"The same characteristics are visible all 

 along the southern coast of Alaska to .Sitka, 

 'i'he n.atives from Yakntat Bay through the 

 network of islands as far as British Columbia 

 have an ancient legend that the raven was the 

 bird that brought light from darkness when 

 the W(uld was created. On this account they 

 venerate it. and the totem of a raven is 

 regarded as denoting the most illustrious 

 descended family. 



"The raven does not appear to migrate, as 

 the residents all o^•er that portion of Alaska 

 where the birds are found state that they 

 remain throughout the wiutei."' — .San Fran- 

 cisco {'hronicle. 



Stranger: "Doctor, what would you do if 1 

 were bitten by a snake?" 



Physician: "I should order you to the hos- 

 jtilal and have you filled to the muzzle with 

 whiskey." 



Stranger: "Doctor, do you know of any 

 snake around here anywhere?" — Judge. 



From Mumaw's Directory: "The better a 

 man knows his fellowmen the more confidence 

 he puts in the affection of his horse and dog." 



"'Tis a very good world that we live in. 



To lend, or to ppend or to t^ive in. 



But to beg or to borrow, or to get a man's own, 



'Tis tlie very worst world that ever wa.s known." 



L. 15. N'ewell shot a Cinnamon Teal, April, 

 1890, at Beatty, Marshall Co., Kans. It was 

 with a flock of Green-wings. The bird was 

 unknown to the gunners of that locality. 



Elmer T. Judd of Bethel, Conn., has ordered 

 his O. & O. to be sent to him at North Dakota, 

 where he intends doing some collecting. He 

 writes: "If the six-foot-two rambler (K. A. B.) 

 would come out with me he could tramp for a 

 week and he would find none of the brush that 

 bothered him so much on his Last trip, and he 

 wiuild be well paid f(U' his trouble." 



[It will take 400 new subscribers to meet 

 Bro. Judd. Brace up friends, if you want 

 "Wanderings from Dakota." F. A. B.] 



Oliver Davies' new .work on taxidermy is 

 now about ready. A recent letter from him 

 says that all possible dispatch is being made. 



Wm. T. Hornaday's new work on taxideimy 

 is also about ready to be placed u])on the 

 market. We will give oor readers full infor- 

 mation at the earliest possible date, and shall 

 arrange to supply it. 



A number of peisonal friends have exi>ressed 

 their gratification for the likeness of John C. 

 Cahoon that we gave in last issue. It wa.s 

 taken from a photograph that he handed us 

 just before starting on his last trip. 



We have noted a gratifying increase in our 

 subscription list during the past year which 

 we credit to our eft'orts to make the O. & O. 

 meet the views of the mass of our subscribers. 

 We always want a little free and easy fodder 

 sent in for our brief note department. 



The Song .Sparrow at our door will sing. 



The Thrn^b will make the woodlauds ring 



With ihe uieny notes that from its thr4iat 'twill bring; 



Vou admire imv birds, don't y<ni'.' 

 In the Mimmertiine. when the swallows Hy, 

 .\iid with their wings go so high 

 Tliat their b.acks appear to toueh the sky, 



Vmi'jl itroti ct our birds, won't von'.' 



C\ L. K. 



IN THIS WAV. 



Oh yes, we'll protect th«-in. the dear little thiiifrs. 

 We'll ^kin and we'll stuff th«*m, and sjn-ead out their 



winj:>; 

 Di^t•■rtt■d. bimeh* d up, or in bands that are riat. 

 We'll stick them by thnii.-ands upon the fall hat; 

 Then yonr cousins and aunties and sisters, so dear. 

 Will look out and ])rote(!t thetn, never you fear. 



Milliner. 



IVrhaps wv can help you. in this same little thing:, 

 And the way that we"nian:it:e praise will sure bring:; 

 We'll i)nt them in skins, all labelled so neat, 

 I.;n<i on llieir backs, earh wilh crossed feet; 

 Ln.-ked up in the drawt rs, fur science so dear. 

 With bi-sulphide and e;nnph<ir, ire'H protect them, 

 don't lear. 



SriEXTiFir. 



If ynu"<l onlv wrote sooner 'bout this dear little thing. 



We could have heli>ed you as slick as a pin, 



We'd have searched every bu^h, in valley and dale. 



And robbed eveiy nest, from chippy to iinail, 



Eaeh egg that we'd taken would have saved a bird, dear. 



From snare and destruction, that you so fear. 



novs. 



Ah. hem ! yes, we love the dear little things. 



And pull through laws yearly with political strings 

 Which sto}) their destruction by snare, trap and gun, 

 And make Tom, Dick and Harry have dtme with such 



fun 

 In the fall of the year. All birdies, dear, 

 HV// protect {in our st(nuachs), never you fear. 



Sportsman. 

 Thus thev will protect the dear little things. 

 Each in the wav that his interest climrs. 

 And the stand that we take, without variation. 

 Is. each follow his fancv. onh/ itse ino(1eration\ 

 Then all will be well with the birds so dear, 

 .\nd they'll weather in safety, never you fear. 



