NATURAL HISTORY SKETCHES 347 



auy visible motion of the wiugs, may it not be on something of the 

 principle of a kite? The string, of course, holds the kite ; but the 

 bird lias intelligence and by a certain curve of its wings and tail 

 throws a weight upon the body and causes a purchase upon the 

 air, as the string to the kite. Hawks were very abundant in 

 Dakota in September. They appeared to be migrating by the 

 hundreds. Marsh, rough-legs and Swainson's were most numer- 

 ous. — Forest and Stream, March 8, 1883. 



The cold winter north sent to Florida great numbers of wood- 

 cock, to the joy of the shooters. Quail have been quite numerous 

 and the gardeners now complain that they take more strawberries 

 than the robins north. The Everglade Kite has been making us a 

 visit near Jacksonville this winter. Three are now in the taxider- 

 mist's hands, taken near here. — Forest and Stream, April 10, 1884. 



When in Minneapolis, Minn., a short time since, I saw in Mr. 

 Tappan's taxidermist shop the skin of a black lynx {Lynx rufus). 

 It was killed in South Florida the winter of 1885. I have seen 

 very dark and nearly black wolf skins in Florida, but never before 

 saw or heard of a black lynx. It is to be sent to the National 

 Museum, Washington. — Forest and Stream, Sept. 23, 1886. 



A boy has sent me an English starling shot here with some 

 redwings. I saw some imported ones were let out at Central Park 

 last spring. This may be one of them come north. — Forest and 

 Stream, Aug. 22, 1889. 



After some years we are this summer having some of our old 

 acquaintances in the way of wild pigeons. Several flocks have 

 been about, and I hope they may again become abundant. — 

 Forest and Stream, Sept. 5, 1889. 



As Mr. Seth Gerry of Eobbiuston (about twelve miles below 

 Calais) was milking his cows in the yard on Wednesday evening, 

 a large bull moose made its appearance among the cows. They 

 did not appear the least alarmed. Mr. Gerry shot the creature 

 from his house window. Not often does such large game come 

 to a man's yard to be shot in such an old-settled neighborhood as 

 Eobbiuston. The head will be sent to your neighbor, John 

 Wallace, to be mounted. — Forest and Stream, Oct. 31, 1889. 



