F0TTRST AND » STREAM. 



47 



present one of the most abundant ranges is near the heart of 

 the Snake and North Platte Rivers, where not infrequently 

 they may be seen in herds of rive hundred to even as high as 

 five thousand. I have ridden for four hours through a con- 

 tinuous herd of these animals, and when they would hardly 

 make, room for my horse to pass through them. They were 

 crossing at the time northward toward the Elk Mountain range 

 in southern Wyoming. From April till the latter part of June 

 they are constantly passing up to the higherregions, the cows, 

 with their calves, keeping at snow line, and the bulls, whde 

 their horns are yet tender, or until the velvet has been worn 

 oft and their antlers hardened, keeping in small opened parks 

 near the foot of the hills. At these times the cows are rarely 

 together, while the males are usually in herds of five to twenty. 

 At the first snows that remain on the mountains— in southern 

 • Wyoming about the middle of September— they pass down 

 into the valleys and lowlands to remain during the winter. In 

 timbered regions they paw away the sward to feed upon the 

 nutritious buffalo grass ; but after a rigorous winter they are 

 usually very poor. In summer .they are constantly harassed 

 by the myriads of flies ( Tabaniw rlwmlmm, and more espe- 

 cially two species of Ohrywps) and mosquitoes, that are found 

 more abundantly near the snow line than elsewhere. 



During the breediDg season, from about May 20 to June 20, 

 the cows isolate themselves, invariably seeking timber where 

 their calves— almost always twins— remain hidden till they are 

 six weeks or two months old. Like antelope, the young are 

 easily caught and tamed. When tamed they run readily with 

 domestic cattle, when the adult males will defeat the most 

 powerful Texas bulls for the possession of the domestic cows. 

 The cows leave their young in the latter part of August ; at 

 that time, for some unknown reason, they are most easily ap- 

 proached and destroyed. The rutting season continues through 

 the latter part of September and early part of October, the 

 cows apparently hiding from the males, while the latter, ex- 

 tremely restless,' are constantly traveling about uttering their 

 shrill, bugle-like note, that can be heard for a long distance. 

 At these times the young males have a decided advantage over 

 the older ones in obtaining possession of the cows. I once 

 witnessed an amusing contest between a two-year-old and a 

 powerful bull much older. For some time the heavy antlers 

 of the older one were used with telling effect against the 

 younger, and he succeeding in throwiug him down several 

 times. Finally, however, the younger one by his greater 

 agility succeeded in attacking his opponent in the side, and, 

 after several most vigorous thrusts with his sharp-pointed 

 spike-horns into his adversary's abdomen, the latter inglori- 

 ously fled, leaving the conqueror in peaceful possession of his 

 hard- won mate. 



Little or no reliance can be placed upon the number of 

 prongs in the male's antlers for determining the age. In a 

 full-grown animal the usual number is from six to eight, but 

 in one instance I found as many as ten. The age up to the 

 fourth or fifth year may be accurately determined by the size 

 of the " ivories" or premolar teeth. 



They are timid animals, with but little curiosity, and rarely 

 show any pugnacity when brought, to bay. The females are 

 almost mute, seldom uttering any cry even when wounded. 



They find a powerful enemy in the mountain lions, and not a 

 few, I believe, fall victims to them. Not long ago, while fol- 

 lowing a cow at a little distance, I was astonished upon emerg- 

 ing into a little park or opening of the trees to find her vio- 

 lently Btrugclingly with a lion that had evidently leaped upon 

 her back from some overhanging branch. His terrible teeth 

 were already fixed into the base of his victim's throat, as he lay 

 across her back, his claws firmly fixed in her shoulders and 

 flanks. It could hardly have taken ten minutes from the first 

 struggles before the cow lay quivering upon the ground, and 

 the panther beside her dead from my rifle-ball. 



LIST OF BIRDS IN PEOTONE AND 

 VICINITY. 



FOLLOWING is a. list of the birds I have observed at 

 this place and in the immediate neighborhood, with 

 notes as to their abundance, breeding, etc. D. H. Eaton. 



Accipter cooperii, Cooper's hawk.-Seen at Twelve-Mile Grove, ahont 

 nine miles from here, on May 12, 1S7T; only one pair seen; set ot 

 eggs obtained ; not very abundant. 



Coccygus erylhrophtlialmus, Black-billed cuckoo.— Not very abundant; 

 breeds. Two set* of two eggs each obtained on June 12, 1ST7. Nests 

 built In apple trees In orchards. 



Picw* vUhmtt, Hairy woodpecker.— Rare ; seen of tener In winter. 



Uphyropious varitts, Yellow-bellied woodpecker.— Rare; probably 

 breeds to some ot tic groves near here. 



Melanerpescrythroceplialus, Hed-headed woodpecker.— Very abundant 

 BtMonee and Twelve- Jtlle Grove ; breeds ; not seen during winter. 



Colaptcs awraiue, Yellow- shaf ted nicker.— Quite abundant; breeds. 



Chordeiks popetue. Night hawk. -Not abundant; breeds. 



Tyrannm caralinenais, King bird.— Very abundant; breeds; raises 

 two broods a year in some seasons. 



Tardus migraterrius, Robin.— Very abundant ; breeds ; two broods 

 a season. 



Sialasialis, Blue bird.— Abundant ; breeds. 



Regains calendula, Ruby-crowned wren— Rare; seen only In spring; 

 no record of its breeding. 



Megulut rntrapa, Goldon-crested wren.— Rare; seen only during 

 spring migrations ; does not breed. 



Qeothlypie trichut, Maryland yellow-tornat.-Qulte abundant; 

 breeds; Wilda Its nest among the weeds near the railroad, close to 

 water ; also In the reeds in largo sloughs. 



Sciurue aurocapillue, Golden-crowned thrush.— Rare ; seen only in 

 spring, and know ot no nest ever having been found. 



Dmdroica astiva,, Yellow warbler.— Abundant ; breeds. 



Peniroiea discolor, Prairie warbler.— RaTe ; breeds. 



Pyranga rubra, Scarlet tanager.— Rare ; probably breeds, as I have 

 noticed in the summer. 



Birundo horreorvm, Barn swallow.— Very abundant ; breeds. 



Birundo luni/rons, Cliff swallow.— Abundant ; breeds. 



Prague ■purpurea, Purple martin.— Abundant ; breedB ; rearB two 

 broods generally. 



Collyrio ludoviriamts, Loggerhead shrike.— Common ; breeds ; rears 

 two broods. Nests with eggs are found the latter part of April or Drat 

 of May. 



CoUyrio excubitoroidee, Whlte-rumped shrike.— Abundant ; breeds; 

 two broods each season. 



Tireogilvus, Warbling vireo.— Quite common ; breeds. 



Mimus sardlirunuUi, Cat blrd.-Oommon ; breeds. 



Barporhynchut rufus, Brown thrush.— Very abundant; breeds. 



Cihtoth orus sf^tan'a, ShorUbllled marsh wren.— Quite abundant ; 

 breeds ; builds its nest In the long reeds in large sloughs. 



ChrymnitrU IrUtU, Yellow blrd.-Very plentiful; breeds. 



PlMtrepftonta nivalis. Enow bnnting.-Plenty In winter; does not 

 breed. 



P. lapponiens, Lapland Lougspur.— Very plentiful in winter. Been 

 sometinieH in flocks of 60 to 100 or more. Frequents corn-llelde, patches 

 of weeds and pastures, feeding on the reeds. 



Chonatiites gramvmca, Lark finch.— Not common ; breeds. Builds on 

 ground in a corn- Held at the foot of a hill of corn. 



Zonotrichia albicclUn, White-throated sparrow.— Seen only tn spring; 

 very plentiful then in the groves. 



SpizMa nwniicola, Tree sparrow.— Very abundant in winter; leaves 

 early In spring. 



S.ptisilla, Field sparrow.— Common ; breeds. 



■Evspizamnerkaim, Black-throated burning.— One of our most abnnd- 

 ant birds. Arrives about May l, and leaves tho latter p irt of Septem- 

 ber. Breeds. Builds in oaage hedges, clumps of young grass, bushes 

 and young evergreens. Ralises two broods, the second set of eggs 

 being laid in July. 



Pipllo erylnropthalmm, Ground robin.— Common summer visitant ; 

 breeds. 



Dolichonyx nrizivorous, Bobolink.— Common ; breedB. 



MoMhrus pecoris, Cow bird.— Common; breeds. 



Ayelaius photnicms, Red-winged blackbird.— Very common ; breeds ; 

 raiaea two broods. Have found nests with young, eggs nearly hatched, 

 and fresh eggs tn same slough. 



Sturnella magna, Meadow lark.— Common; breeds. 



Icterus spuriu*. Orchard oriole.— Quite common ; breeds. 



/. baltimore, Baltimore oriole.— Kare. Have seen but one neat in the 

 grove at Wilton. 



Quiscalus versicolor, Crow blackbird.— Common; breeds in large 

 numbers. 



Corvtm americanus. Crow.— Common in the groves at Wilton and 

 Monee ; breeds. 



Oyanura crystala, Blue Jay.— Quite common ; breeds. 



Kctapistea miyratoria, Wild pigeon.— Occasionally seen; does not 

 breed. 



Zenaidura carolinensia, Common dove, Turtle dove.— Very plenty; 

 breeds ; raises several broods each season. 



Cupidonia cupido, Prairie hen, Pinnated grouse.— Plentiful ; breeds. 



Monasa umbellus, Ruffed grouBe.— Bare. One or two specimens have 

 been shot at Wilton. 



Qrlyx virginianus, Quail.— Abundant; breeds. 



Eotaurus knliginosus, Bittern, Thunder pnmp, Stake driver.— Com- 

 mon ; breeds. Nest built sometimes in the midst of a slough, and at 

 times on the ground at the edge. Usual number of eggs, four ; have 

 found one nest of seven eggs. 



Charadrim virginicue, Golden plover.— Plenty during spring and fall 

 migrations ; does not breed. 



Mjiolilis vaciferiut, Kllldeer plover.— Very common; breedB. 



Philohela minor, Woodcock.— Rare. Have Been but one bird, In a 

 small grove of young maples. Do not know of Its breeding. 



Gallinago vnlwnii, English snipe.— Plentiful in spring and fall ; does 

 not breed, except, perhaps, in isolated cases. 



Maerorhamphus griseus, Red-breasted snipe.— Quite plentiful In 

 spring ; no record of its breeding. 



Prtngoidcs maciitarius, Spotted sandpiper.— Plentiful. Have seen It 

 during the snuimer, and it probably breeds. 



Actiturm barlramius, Field plover, Upland plover— Common; breeds; 

 nest built on the ground In pastures. 



Parzana Carolina, Common-rail,— Abundant ; breedB. 



Bernicla canadensis, Canada goose.— Generally common in spring ; re- 

 mains but a few days. 



Bernicla brenta, Brant..— Occasionally shot in spring and fall on some 

 of the large sloughs and lakes near here. 



A nas boscTuut, Mallard.— Common in spring and fall. Some few pairs 

 remain and breed. 



Daftla acuta, Sprlg-tailduck, Pin-tail duck, Tigeon-tail.— Not common; 

 occasionally breeds. 



Nettion carolinenms, Green-winged teal.— Common during migrations; 

 may possibly breed, but have never found ue«t. 



Qvcrquedula disrore, Blue- winged teal. -Common during migrations. 



Podilymbus podiceps, Carolina grebe. — Common ; breeds. 



AltRlVAlS AT THE PHILADELPHIA ZOOLOGICAL GAUPKN FOR TEIB WEEK 



ENDING AUGTJBT 13.— Two brown-throated parrakeets, Connrus arrugi- 

 nosue, purchased; two craw llsh and one columber, Obsoktva confinis, 

 presented ; three bald eagles, Ualimtw kucnccphalus, presented. 



Ijffoodlxnd, <ffum mud %wtim, 



THI8 DEPARTMENT 18 EDITED BY W. J. DAVTD80N, BJJO. N. T. 

 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



FLOWERS IN THE CITY. 



DURING the last ten or fifteen years we have seen a vast 

 improvement in the taste displayed in many points of 

 our social and domestic life, but perhaps in none has more ad- 

 vance been displayed than in the floral decoration of our rooms, 

 balconies, hotels and public places of resort. Formerly the 

 attempt at decoration got no further than a few asthmatic 

 scarlet Geraniums, red-spidery Fuchsias, Heliotropes, with 

 here and there an overgrown Oleander, Cape Jessamine, 

 Cactus, or perhaps the beautiful (when well grown) scarlet 

 Malvaviscus. Now this dead Jevel is broken through, and not 

 only in the pretentious uptown hotels and the Fifth avenue 

 mansions do we see the feathery and graceful Palm, the many- 

 hued and resplendent Caladium and Colens, etc., but among 

 the poorer denizens of this crowed city the love of the beau- 

 tiful is manifested in the care bestowed on the sweet Madeira 

 Vine, the common Morning Glory, or any of those cheaper 

 but not less beautiful flowering, variegated, or parti-colored 

 foliaged plants that can be bought at such a low figure every 

 season. For northern exposures, also, our native ferns are 

 cherished as a boon by many, their graceful fresh green fronds 

 being a relief to the eye weary of dusty streets and sun-baked 

 brick walls, and their introduction has been hailed by many, 

 whose opportunities of enjoying the beauties of Ferns in their 

 native haunts are few and far between. Many of them arc 

 evergreen also, and it iB surely more pleasant, when looking 

 across the way or enjoying a quiet reading by the window, to 

 look through a screen of Ferns than through those abomina- 

 tions known as blinds, however useful they may be in their 

 way. It is a common remark that flowers outside of a house 

 are ostentatious, as, from their arrangement sloping down- 

 ward to the outer edge, they cannot be enjoyed by the inmates. 

 Those who thus object, however, forget that they also enjoy 

 the full result of theiropposite neighbor's horticultural efforts, 

 and are hound to make him some return. Besides, is it 

 nothing to add to the pleasures— all too scanty— of the dusty 

 and toil-worn wayfarers of the street ? And that the lovely 



flowers and rich green drapery, tended and trained by loving 

 fingers in our windows and balconies afford pleasure, may be 

 easily read in the admiring and loving glances directed toward 

 them. Such a civilizing influence is by no means to be 

 despised ; it carries on in the hot dusty streets the good work 

 begun in our well-cared for parks, and the glimpses of private 

 gardens we sometimes see, and perchance reaches many a son 

 or dfiughtcr of toil, in whose hard-working lives parks and 

 gardens are words, and nothing more. The increased use of 

 plants and flowers at balls, receptions, fairs and other enter- 

 tainments, has also been mnst remarkable. Formerly, a few 

 evergreens placed under the staircase, with perhaps a few 

 flowering plants in front of them, was considered the ne phu 

 ultra of good taste. Now colors arc blended with thought 

 and care, graceful Palms and feathery Ferns break up nionot- 

 nous lines; Roses, the queen of flowers, and drooping Fuchsias, 

 many-hucd Colenses and Dracsmas, and exotics beyond num- 

 ber lend their aid to the general effect. On our dinner-tables, 

 parlor-tables and mantels, too, floral decoration reigns trium- 

 phant ; and why not ? The first suggestion of such a Ihing is 

 met by an outcry as to expenses, and" certainly if nothing but 

 the choicest Roses, Eucharis, Orchids or other choice exotica 

 will content us, it is not without cause. Bui Ivy. and common 

 Ferns. Sheep Laurel, Lobelia, our native Lilies, yes, and 

 Pond Lilies, too, sprays of Madeira Vine, Creeping 'Charlie, 

 Wandering Jew, Maurandia and other ordinary flowers are by 

 no means costly, and these, arranged with taste by skillful 

 hands, produce effcts far superiorlo those attained by a less 

 artistic disposition of the most 'expensive blossoms. A few 

 sprays of Partridge Berry or wild Anemone, with a few wild 

 Violets or other flowers among them, tastefully grouped in a 

 small vase, will oftentimes give more real pleasure, especially 

 io a sick room, than the richest and most elaborate bouquet, 

 even if presented by Crcesus No. II. As lornr, however, as 

 ladies will not take the trouble to arrange their flowers them- 

 selves, so long will the floral adornments of their tables and 

 parlors be unsatisfactory. Flowers give the finishing touch 

 of refinement to everything with which they are associated, 

 but, their arrangement, requires taste, judgment, love and pracj 

 tice. Mrs. W. J. D. 

 . — ». — . 



How to Fumigate. — Some of our Southern and even 

 Northern readers may want to know how a room, a kennel or 

 clothing may be fumigated. Dr. Chandler, of the New York 

 Board of Health, gives the following as the best method : 



Place some sulphur in an iron vessel and pour a little alco- 

 hol on it. The alcohol in set, on fire, and before it is burned 

 away the sulphur will be ignited. There will arise from the 

 burning sulphur sulphurous acid gas, which, like other gases, 

 will mix itself with all the air in the house without the aid of 

 draught or currents. It will penetrate to every crevice, and 

 will destroy the vitality of every disease germ with which it 

 comes in contact. 



IP* S^m^l 



The St. Paul Bench Snow.— One of the novel attractions 

 of the St. Paul Bench Show will be a full team of Esqui- 

 maux dogs harnessed to the sledge or Traincau. There will 

 also lie Hare Coursing and Fox Running. The field trial 

 judges for the. bench show are John Davidson, Esq., of Mon- 

 roe, Michigan ; O. J. Butler, Esq , of Stillwater, and Wm. 

 Mulliken, Esq., St. Cloud. In selecting the judges for the 

 field trials the committee have had only one object in view, 

 viz. : to secure the best practical and unbiased men. They 

 have been peculiarly fortunate in doing this, as Mr. Butler 

 and Mr. Mulliken are well known in this Stale for their hon- 

 orable and fair manner in dealing with all alike. Mr. David- 

 son is the recognized best judge of a dog on this continent. 

 Mr. Lort, the great "all-round" English judge, paid him a 

 very high compliment at New York in saying, that as many 

 English judges as he had been associated with he had never 

 met one possessing so much practical knowledge as Mr. 

 Davidson. In securing Mr. Davidson as the bench and 

 field trial judge the committee have done what no other 

 club lias been able to do, as his services have been frequently 

 asked for, but always denied. 



Biohmond Kennel Club. — A kennel club is now being 

 formed in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. John Adams is one of 

 its chief promoters. The Richmond sportsmen ought to at- 

 tcud the coming field trials in Minnesota. 



Distemper.— Mr. John Davidson, of Monroe, Michigan, 

 who is to be one of the judges at the coming Bench Show in 

 St. Paul, has recently lost twelve valuable dogs from distem- 

 per, and has taken the precaution to scatter his kennel to pre- 

 vent the disease from spreading. He thinks the disease was 

 introduced by one of h.s dogs which he took with him to the 

 East last spring. 



. — fc_ 



High Price for a Setter.— Dash II., but for the odd fifty 

 guineas, might have come to New York, as our correspondent, 

 Captain John M. Taylor, offered 250 guineas for Dash on the 

 part of a gentleman in New York. Bell's Life of AuguBt 3 

 says : 



Mr. G- Brewis has sold his celebrated field trial setter, Dash 

 II., to Mr. Llewelbn for BOO guineas, the highest price ever 

 paid for a single setter. It will be recollected that Mr. Brewis 

 gave 180 guineas for Dash at Aldiidge's, and since then he has 

 won with him the Horseheath Stakes, the Kennel Club Chal- 

 lenge Cup. and a second and third also at Horseheath and 

 Shrewsbury, added to which he won the Open Dog Stake and 

 the Champion Cup at Shrewsbury before Mr. Brewis bought 

 him. Dash has been lightly considered the best looking setter 

 that has ever contested a field trial, and as he is nearly a pure 

 Laverack, combining the two best strains of that sort, old 

 Blue Dash and Blue Prince, he must necessarily be a most in- 

 valuable dog at the stud. He was bred by John Armstrong, 

 and was got by the late Mr. Laverack's Blue Prince out of 

 Kate, by Mr. Laverack's Old Dash out of Kate, by Mr. Field's 

 Duke, and he is now five years old. 



Kames Claimed.— New York, Aug. 14.— Mr. C. H. Clayl 

 ton claims the name of "Flame" for his red setter pup, out of 

 Kularney (imported Frisk and Grouse by imported Milo— 

 Dan- Venus), whelped May 18, 1878. " Judge " for his orange 

 and white setter pup out of Fan (Gildersleeve's Dash-Fan), 



