October 1891.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



159 



api)i-oached within a few feet, l)ut alas! the 

 old story, 1 had no gun. I should not be 

 surprised to hear of this bird being reported 

 from other localities in its southward journey, 

 since by its nature it will prefer the haunts of 

 man i-ather than the woods. 



Shelley W. Denton. 

 Wellesley, Mass., Sept. 3, 1891. 



Value of Bisoms' Hkad.s. It may not 

 be generally known that tirst-class stuffed 

 heads of the American Bison are now 

 selling for $liM to $0IJ0 eacli, and are not 

 abundant at these large prices. The scarcity 

 of specimens and figures demanded for them 

 has infiueuced taxidermists ta manufacture 

 these heads. This is easily done, as it is an 

 easy matter to mould ahead, i)aint the nose, 

 and attach the horns — either natural or arti- 

 ficial horus are used. A bide is then procured 

 aM<l drawn over the moulded head. Tliis is so 

 skilfully done that at a little distance none but 

 expeits can tell the artificial from the genuine 

 head. But while the artificial head serres the 

 purpose for furriers or for advertising pur- 

 poses, the scientific institutions require the 

 genuine heads, which are each year rapidly 

 increasing in value. A good bison hide could 

 formerly be purchased for two or three dol- 

 lars. At the present tin)e $2.5 would be readily 

 paid for a prime skin, and these skins would, 

 in some instances, be used to make artificial 

 beads. 



It is said that the heads and hides of domes- 

 tic bison — those bred in captivity — lose the 

 characteristics of wild bison, and this also en- 

 hances the value of the old and genuine 

 hi.son beads. 



Ten or twelve years ago the Union Pacific 

 Railway Company had mounted a large num- 

 ber of these heads — it is said they contracted 

 for them at six or seven dollars apiece — they 

 were used for advertising purposes, and dis- 

 tributed over this country and Europe. Since 

 tlie extermination of the bison became ajipar- 

 ent the railroad company, it is said, en- 

 deavored to recover as many as i>ossible, and 

 succeeded in securing ciuite a number, but as 

 they were not first-class heads when dis- 

 tributed, they were cjuite a poor lot when 

 recovered. 



Fifteen yeais ago the writer knew of a lot of 

 twenty-five bison heads which were brought to 



Boston and as no one could be found to pur- 

 chase them they rotted and were throvA n into 



Boston harbor. At that time one C(ud(l jiur- 



chase a good bison head for ten dollars. — 

 [Shooting & Fishing, Bostcni, "the leading 

 sportman's weekly." 



A few days since four snakes' eggs were 

 handed to us. and in a day or so out came 

 some little milk adders, each about six inches 

 long. They at once fell to fighting ■iid biting 

 each other like imps. 



A new addition to our happy family is a pet 

 coon. It is about half grown and kind and 

 gentle. ])layiiig about the house like a kitten. 

 It has its entire freedom, l)ut jirefers to re- 

 main indoors. If a dead sparrow is given to 

 it. it tears it to pieces ancl devours it raven- 

 ously. It also has a fondness for eggs. 



Correspondence. 



Editor of 0. tfc O.: 



I have had the picture of our lamented 

 friend, John C. Cahoon, photographed and 

 enlarged to 11 xU, by 6. E. Gould of South 

 Lyon, iJich., who is master of his profession. 

 It now adorns my wall, and money would not 

 buy it. That honest, ojien countenance tells 

 its story at first sight. I am sorry to say that 

 1 had not the honor of his personal acquaint- 

 ance, yet I have seen so much of him through 

 the columns of the O. & O., that while reading 

 the sad account of his horrible fate I felt as if 

 a brother had passed away. Name if you can 

 the man who, in the same length of time, has 

 taken the risks and endured the privations he 

 has for our favorite science; if such a man 

 lives or has lived I want to know him, — I 

 want his picture also, for I am an admirer of 

 men of this type. 



When the end of that fatal rope passed 

 thriuigh his hands ornithology lost one of its 

 most brilliant lights, a light not soon to be 

 replaced. The memory of Mr. Cahoon should, 

 and I think does, occupy a warm place in the 

 heart of every ornithologist in the United 

 States and Canada. His people have my 

 warmest sympathy. S. Eader. 



Editor of O. ct O.: 



Deak Sir — I send a few brief notes for 

 1891 : On Jan. 1st I saw a flock of nine Canada 

 Geese, the first of the year; is not this early 

 for them ? Also on Aug. 2d I saw an adult 

 Bald Eagle sailing over Voighfs Woods, near 

 this city. I saw my first Ked-headed Wood- 

 pecker, March 0th; Meadow Lark, Feb. 14th; 

 Red-shouldered Hawk, Feb. 14tb; Broad-winged 

 Hawk, Feb. (ith; Yellow Warbler, March 11th; 

 Indigo Bunting, March 11th; Wood Pewee, 

 ilarch 11th; Great Blue Heron, March 11th; 

 Chipping Sparrow, March 11th; Robin, Feb. 

 i'.jth; Duck, Feb. 2th: Bronzed Grackle, Feb. 

 .j4t], B. II. Swales. 



l>etroir, Mioli. 



Editor of O. <t O.: 



I notice that the Wrens' eggs found in trees 

 are much darker and more densely spotted 

 than those found in the eaves and holes of 

 houses; I find no distinction in check list. It 

 has happened so with lialf a dozen sets of 

 each, collected at different places. Is there 

 any ditterence ? It w^as just yesterday that I 

 found quite a curiosity. It was a wild 



