m 



88 



FOREST AND STREAM, 



Whether or not this pleaBing result can be entirely credited to the 

 sparrow I am not prepared to say, but I do think they have contributed 

 their full share toward it, and this opinion la formed from a oUwe ob- 

 servance of them since such a controversy was opened in your columns 

 a year ago. 



In ti past number of Forest and Stream there is an article by Dr. 

 Elliott Cones, In which he states that the European sparrow, in the 

 course of a tew years, will become so numerous as to be a scourge over 

 the land. In this locality his prediction has already proved correct. 

 Ten years ago, about thirty pairs of these birds were turned loose here. 

 The City Council, in order to protect them, had a number of little 

 houses placed on the largo elms on the Public Square for their accom- 

 modation. This wise City Council, furthermore, passed an ordnance to 

 protect these foreign birds, " $10 fine for killing one or destroying 

 of their nests." To-day these sparrows can be counted by the thou- 

 sands, not only on every street and by-way of the city, but also on every 

 pnblic rr ad from live to twenty miles beyond its limits. They lmve 

 driven away all our native birds, aud at this season when they com- 

 mence to flodc they are enraging on the garden! nnd fieWa In the 

 suburbs. A florist tslla mo that they have destroyed all his tube rosea. 

 They eat, he says, the flowers in the bud. Another tells me they attack 

 the peach blossom budB in the same way, and that he has Rilled them 

 with their cropa filled with this kind of food, never Interlarded with 

 any kind of Insect life. One gardener, a week ago, got desperate, aud 

 defied the law for protect ion to European sparrows. He had en acre of 

 choice oats that ho was cultivating for seed. Being choice food, tin 

 sparrows made a de?cent upon them, as he says, " by the thousands. 1 

 The oats were, faat disappearing, so he brought out the old shot-gun. 

 The Urkt fire Into tlve ftoolc brought down twenty-nine sparrows, tin: 

 second shot forty more ; at the third shot twenty-eight sparrows fell, 

 and at the fourth aud last shot, twelve more were killed, making id all, 

 the result of f. nil- shots, 109 birds. After the fourth shot Jhe varlets 

 left to seek pastures uew. Grangers, organize your " sparrow clubs.' 



A New Salmoid.— Mr. Hallock, editor of this paper, -while 

 fishing on the Au Sable River in Michigan, last month, dis- 

 covered what he believes to be a hybrid between the grayling 

 and the sucker, and has sent a specimen in alcohol to the 

 Smithsonian Institution, accompanied by the following letter : 



Ac SABLE ElVBB,Mich., Aug. 22, L8JS, 

 Professor Spencer F. fiairJ. Smilh-soman : 



DKArtSnt— Michigan, in whose waters the grayling was so lecontly 

 found, seems to be the home of another salmoid uot hitherto described, 

 which is apparently a hybrid between the giayllng and sucker. 1 for- 

 ward a specimen in alcohol by express. 



To Dsbermen on the An Sable Elver it is known as "pilot- 

 fish," a name derived, so far aB I can asceitain, from lis 

 habit or preceding the whitcflsh in their fall and spring at 

 rivals at the mouth of ibis river, which empties into Lake Huron. 1 

 summer it is found in mid-stream lu deep holes or hasins having 

 white clay botlom, where it is seen in company with suckers, chubs. 

 dace, stone rollers, and grayling, the last of which it closely resembles 

 In shape, color, fin arrangement, and many specific characteristics. It 

 possesses, however, the mouth of the sucker, and, having no teeth, Is 

 not predacious. It does not take the hook, snd its food seems, from 

 microscopic examination, to be principally larva;. It a€ceods me 

 An Saole late in the fall and spawnB in February, according to the 

 statements of riparian dwellers. A great many are speared abotit that 

 time. Specimens which I opened contained spawn which indicated 

 maturity at that date. The eggs were one-sixteenth of an inch In di- 

 ameter. Grayling spawn in March and A pril. Whether a true fish or 

 a hybrid, the pilot-fish evidently reproduces and propagates. I send 

 the following description : 



Length of specimen, 13 In.: we'ght, 6% o%. 



Tin formula— D 12, A 12, C at), r If, V 10 Do. of Grayling— D 20, A 8, 

 C20, P14.V10. 



Speciflo Characteristics of rilowish— Head, about one-fifth length of 

 body; length of snout equals diameter of eye; depth of body equals 

 length of head ; dorsal, about the middle of body; second dorsal, adi- 

 pose; caudal, deeply forked; scales, one-eight h inch in dUmeter; month, 

 sucker-like, and when open measures three-eighths of an inch verti- 

 cally. 



Color— Olive green on back, shading to white with purplish tints on 

 sides; belly, white; dorsal and caudal fins, olive green; other fins 

 yellowish brown or saffron. 



It bears a general resemblance to the grayling, except that It has no 

 metallic black spots on the sides. Its dorsal fin Is small, pointed and 

 without variegated colors. Caudal and vertical fins precisely like those 

 of a grayling ; ventral and anal like those of a sucker ; scales, same as 

 In grayling. Flesh fairly edible, but softens quicker than the grayling. 



I am indebted to L. H. Fitzhugh, Esq., of Bay City, and Leu Jewell, 

 our expert boatman, for aid in securing this fish. I shall be pleased 

 to have you Identify the specimen and send your reply to the Forest 

 and Stream, to which I have forwarded a copy of thiB letter. 



I remain very truly yours, Cam Hnci.ues, 



Ell. FOWSST AHP STRE.4M. 



lady readers to is this : au arrangement that may be called a 

 "monotone of flowers." By this I mean to express the ar- 

 ranging of flowers all of the one color, but of all shades of 

 t but color, and should my words be considered out of keep- 

 ing, I shield myself under this plea and precedent; I have 

 seen certain pictures, catalogued as symphonies in gray, 

 harmonies in red and yellow, and when great artists thus 

 employ words to express their meaniDg, humbly following 

 in their footsteps I do the same. 



Accident first taught me the chaste beauty of a monotone 

 of flowers. Gathering some ordinary garden blossoms for 

 in-door decoration, I was struck by the gorgeous beauty of 

 a handful of Nasturtiums, and resolved to try the effpet of 

 using these flowers and a little foliage alone. The blossoms 

 were in profusion and furnished every tint of yellow, from 

 the palest lemon to the deepest, orange. Some were blotched 

 on the petals with a dark crimson patch, others of aself- 

 calor were almost starlet, others again pure, uastreaked 

 maize-color; some a deep orange-brown, almost black at the. 

 base of their petals. The varieties, indeed, were too numer- 

 ous to remember, but one striped red aud yellow was quite 

 novel ami was christened Tiger. Gathering a largo basket- 

 ful of (lowers, choice was made of a large blue mid white 

 china bowl of a Japanese pattern, cranes flying over im- 

 possible mountains, and so on. In this bowl au ordinary 

 glass goblet was placed, and, filling each with wider, filled 

 both with flowers. The effect was line, and to soften the 

 gorgeousness of such a brilliant mass a few sprays of 

 Maiden-hair Fern and Maurandia were added and allowed 

 to droop over the lower flowers. It was necessary lu arrange 

 the blooms very lightly. When completed the pyramid was 

 magnificent; so much, indeed, did it brighten up the rot 

 and centre attention upon its beauty, that Rgaifl, following 

 the example of artistB who, to avoid a too glaring effect of 

 one color, place the same in minor quantities in another part 

 of their picture, I arranged the same flowers in smaller 

 vases on the. mantel-piece and side-table and found my 

 monotone of flowers a perfect success. The dull corners of 

 the room were positively lit up by the brilliancy of lue blos- 

 soms, which cams out in bold relief against the pale drab 

 which was the prevailing tint of the wails. In making choice 

 of flowers the aspect of the room ought to be taken into con- 

 sideration. Bright summer Roses would look superb and 

 impart a warm tone to a dull apartment, as did the Nastur- 

 tiums, while a room open to much sunlight might have 

 freshness and coolness suggested by a monotone of flowers 

 in all the various shades of blue. J- J- 



tgoodhnd, S nm m $ §ardm, 



ARRANGEMENT OF FLOWERS. 



ALLOW me to supplement the interesting and instructive 

 remarks of your correspondent, Autjust 22, on 

 " Flowers in the City," with, a few thoughts that bave oc- 

 curred to me. While artistic gardening is becoming more 

 and more popular, and the contrasting or blending of colors 

 ■with a view to effect is gaining increased attention; while 

 the art of dinner-table decoration is becoming almost a special 

 study, and window decorations receive no mean share of the 

 florist's attention— the homely, yet pleasing and beautifying 

 custom of placing vase bouquets in rooms is becoming 

 neglected. At our receptions, dinners and parties the epergne 

 and the bout.onniere are always well considered, the mass- 

 ing of flowers ou mantel and in the fire-places, the festooning 

 of pier glasses, etc, with smilax, and grouping of autumn 

 and fern leaves in brackets and on walls is by no means 

 overlooked; but vases of flowers as evcry-day mailers are in- 

 teresting to all, for they beautify home for those wdio live in 

 it, and give an air of cheerfulness and pleasure to the rooms 

 which cannot but. have its effect nn the occasional callers 

 whose taste has not. vet led them to think of such decora- 

 tions. Flowers of all descriptions arc as fitting an ornament 

 in the house of the artisan as in the palace of the millionaire, 

 and they impart an air of refinement to every room in which 

 they are placed, and their tasteful arrangement should re- 

 ceive a due amount of care. 

 That which I most wish to draw the attention of your 



JAPANESE GARDEN PLANTS. 



THERE is no country so rich in desirable plants which are 

 suited to our climate as Japan— witness the vast number of 

 shrubs, flowers and evergreens which have that distinguishing 

 appelative, Japonictv, and there is no country in which arti- 

 ficial gardening is universally carried to such lengths. The 

 showy aud beautiful Lilium speciosum in its many fr.rms 

 decks the woodlands and hill sides, and the lovely Lilium 

 fiuraUnu is grown as a vegetable, the bulbs being used as we 

 would Jerusalem artichokes, and the variety of other Lilies 

 and kindred plants which flourish in this country is endless. 

 The Chrysanthemum is the national flower and grows to a 

 gigantic size, as well as in many curious tasselated and other 

 forms now familiar to us. A conventional representation of 

 it is the crest of the Mikado, and the flower and stalk both ap- 

 pear on their new coinage, where it divides the honor with 

 the Paulownia itaperialis or Kiri, which, on account of the 

 distinctness of its annual rings, was formerly used for meas- 

 uring periods, being planted at the birth of a prince and cut 

 down at his death, when the number of rings gave the years 

 of his age. Its wood is distinguished by its extreme dryness, 

 a valuable property in a climate that is damp for a great part 

 of the year, and it is therefore used for sword-scabbards and 

 boxos for the preservation of articles liable to rust. The 

 Sacuraor double-flowering Cherry (Prunus pseudo-cerasus), 

 is cultivated everywhere for the beauty of its flowers, as is 

 also the dwarf double-flowered Almond (Prunus sinensis). 

 The fruit-bearing Cherry is almost unknown, and one cannot 

 give a Japanese "a greater treat than a dish of fine cherries. No 

 one who hnsexamined Japanese porcelain, lacquer-ware, stuffs 

 or colored prints can have failed to observe what an important 

 part the double-flowering cherry fall flowers and no leaves) 

 and the parti-colored, cut-leaved and variegated Maple foliage 

 play in their landscapes and decorations. The early spri 

 when the country is abla/.e with the bios mt of the dott 

 flowered Cherry and Almond, is a time for universal ext 

 sions, picnics and frolics. With their portable fire-boxes, to- 

 bacco receptacles, spirit cases, nnd picnic baskets, the whole 

 family goes afield and makes a day of it. The Japanese hunt 

 as earnestly after botanical novelties i as any of its. It seems 

 strange to them that we think so much of a tabic vegetable 

 like Lilium auratum, but nn accomplished Japanese in the in- 

 terior of the country, who was taking nn American friendover 

 his house and showing him priceless old china and laquer, 

 sword-blades and ivory carvinge, finally exhibited as a great 

 curiosity au ordinary soda -water bottle (glass is not common 

 in Japan); and Winnie:: him into his garden, which was a 

 little paradise of fantastically-trained trees, flowers, rockeries 

 and cascades, expected supreme admiration for a plant of 

 variegated Kale and an English Daisy— an ever-blooming 

 Chrysanthemum, he called it— which were languishing side 

 by side in flower pots. J- O. N. 



tramps may be worse than ours. We never hear of any acts of 

 real violence, still, pilfering is not uncommon among our wan- 

 dering classes. It, is to protect outlying districts that my 

 dogs are useful . The breed of dogs I have must be fully fifty 

 years old in my neighborhood, as my father kept them. The 

 distinguishing trait is their courage, sense and discrimination. 

 The dogs seem to have a power of perception. What I prize 

 them for is this curious trait, they have command over their 

 tempers. I can explain this by the following circumstances : 

 Johnny is a mastiff some six years old. Last spring a 

 tinker by trade, and a thief, I am afraid, by profession, Was 

 making across a Held of mine. Trespass, of course, is not al- 

 lowed in England, but as my field had no growing crops the 

 harm the man could do was not much. Johnny disputed his 

 passage through the hedge. The man took a stone and threw 

 it at the dog. It was not a large stone, and was not thrown with 

 violence, though it struck the dug. Johnny did not seem to 

 mind it. Though quick to fight, somehow the dog never 

 showed any anger. He did not bark nor even growl then, but 

 kept passing backward and forward within ten feet of the 

 man, his head only half turned toward I he aggressor. Pres- 

 ently the fellow, being emboldened, pulled out a stake from 

 the hedge. Johnny did not allow him to sirike. He went 

 up deliberately to the man, without a growl, almost at his or- 

 dinary gait, and seized hold of his arm and held him. The 

 man's cries brought some of my people, and the fellow waa 

 released. Of course the print of the dog's teeth was in the 

 man's arm, but not deep. If the. man had been violent, the 

 dog would certainly have made his teeth meet. All the breed 

 seem to understand that watchfulness is what is required of 

 them. If I bring a stranger with me to the house in the day- 

 3 the dog will eye him carefully and will follow him for a 

 little while, seeming to wish bo take in his whole appearan ce. 

 aid he go out alone for the first day or so, the dog will 

 impanyhimat a polite distance. If the guest went out 

 at night, and the dogs were not lied up, they might stick 

 closer to him than be would like. 



I must say that Johnny's conduct in regard to the fair sex- 

 is courtesy itself. Occasionally at a wurd from my daughter, 

 this dog will go a mile to meet a young lady, a friend of tho 

 house, and escort her along the. road and grounds. He pays 

 no attention to anything that don't wear pantaloons, nor to 

 children. All the little ones, whether friends of his or 

 strangers, might do what they pleased, stroll all over the 

 grounds, and he would remain indifferent. I never knew 

 him to growl at a child. In fuel, the whole breed arc veiy 

 silent when at liberty, but when chained then they are decided- 

 ly noisy of night, which is more or less objectionable. I 

 have found that bitches were a trifle more cross than the 

 dogs, and required checking. Of course the peculiar instinct 

 of these animals helps them a great deal, but their natural 

 qualities are improved by judicious training. I do not allow 

 the dogs to be handled. They are taught not to wander nor 

 leave the place. In feeding them but one or two people care 

 for them. Indiscriminate acquaintance hurts them. Kately 

 if ever do they come into the house. The members of the 

 house and the family they soon know and never forget. 

 Johnny's father, old Roderick, I think cared more forabrolhet 

 of mine than for me. My brother was an invalid for some 

 years, and could barely walk a hundred yards without resting. 

 Rod knew his manner so well, that, after trotting along some 

 distance, Rod would crouch on the ground and seem to indi- 

 cate to my brother that that exact place was Where he was to 

 rest. The dog would remain sometimes all night under his 

 window. 1 have two such animals, a dog aud a bitch, but it 

 is the dog that does the watch and guard. One grave objec- 

 tion to these dogs which 1 must state, is that they are quarrel- 

 some with other' dogs. It is very unsafe for au animal to ap- 

 pear on the grounds, that is if he is of their size. A pitched 

 battle two often ensues, and the adversary is mostly routed. 

 If what I have written interests you I will give you some time 

 later other traits of these mastiffs. It. L. B. 



TRAITS OF THE ENGLISH MASTIFF. 

 Baih, England, Aug. 8, 1878. 



KDITOK FottHST AND StHKAM : ... 



It will give me great pleasure, to give you what information 

 I can ih regard to my mastiffs. My breed I believe is a good 

 and choice one. I have occasionally exhibited in local bench 

 shows, but never in the London or Manchester exhibitions. I 

 have quite a number of prizes. Still as far as the points go 

 which determine the excellence of a show dog, I am afraid 

 that a "rent many animals inferior in intelligence to mine 

 would have showered on them the encomiums of the judges. 

 Still the dogs 1 have have a fair local celebrity, and 1 can dis- 

 pese of all the puppies I can rear, when six months old, at 

 from £8 to -CIO. I have not hud any for sak- for the last three 

 years, and all yet to come are engaged lor some time. I read 

 a great deal in your American papers about tramps. I have a 

 small place, which lies on a mam route, and during certain 

 seasons this road is thronged by dubious characters. Tour 



The True Stoby o*- Pedigree.— Wc have received from 

 Mr. John R. Robinson, of Sunderland, the following letter in 

 regard to pedigree, which wc cheerfully give place to in our 

 columns. The late Mr. Laverack's letters seem to show con- 

 clusively that Mr. Robinson raised Pedigree i 



Sunderland, Aug. 18, 1878. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



There being an attempt to disprove that I bred Pedigree 

 and his Bisters Magnet ami Fairy 11., etc., Ibeg to inclose some 

 of my lamented and departed friend, E. Laverack's, letters 

 bearing directly ou the subject and leave the mutter in your 

 hands,' as I consider comment superfluous. 1 have many 

 more letters ou the subjict, some proving, if possible, more 

 conclusively that I bred the setters in dispute. If you have a 

 catalogue of the Crystal Palace Dog Show for 1876 look tit 

 the open class for English Betters aud you will Bee that I ex- 

 hibited iNed and Fairy, Mr. Laverack exhibiting Pedigree, all 



i : :. .me litter, namely, out, of my Dai iy by Victor, he by 

 Dash-Moll, and licit Mr. Lavcrnck entered Pediirac as bred 

 by me. What further proof is needed? The above three 

 dogs were the eieani of the litter. Those In America were 



nailed Pied, Amy and .Mag or Maggie, and ucie changed to 

 Pedigree, Fairy IX and Magnet, 1 may say that Mr. Laverock 

 and I bred Betters together and that I placed all Daisy's litter 

 at his disposal except JJed, which was the gem. It may be 

 interesting to learn that I have a son of Daisy (dam of Pedi- 

 gree) that I consider by far the best stud setter that 1 know 

 of ; ha is much larger than Pedigree, with more bone and 

 substance, and even more elegant looking. He is by Prince, 

 Daisy's sire. Color, lemon and white, and better marked than 

 Pedigree. My fine bitch, Blue Cora (the late Mr. Laverack's 

 Nellie), sister to Blue Belle, has had one litter to him, and ere 

 this reaches you she will have given birth to her second litter. 

 Mr. Walker, the judire, and a friend of Mr. L.'s, has a brace 

 of the first litter. ' Trusting that all concerned and interested 

 in the Pedigree dispute will be satisfied, 

 I am yours faithfully, John Romfobd Robinson. 



EieirflHAU,, WurreaenCH, Saloi •, Feb. 9, 1S76. 



Hear Mr. RobU«nn- Ineluacd yon receive u chert tar the pair of 



niun.iei i'i ••„■ ''-■! in, itiat Is, tlfty gu:uens. You must continue to 



do | tiReee'i !]"<- ■■ "• • I eV.usKtei aim tie smn or the litter. Amy I 

 will send for when I hear from Jfiy American friend. The nrleewillbe 

 liv'.-nt'-'iv e"n, h- i-awie us thr pair parc-haned. The American 

 i mm 10 ' .' either Hed or oneof uiy blue niche", but you 

 nmat 'not sell Ned &M Will 1 Bell either of my bine liitehea at. any 

 price Acknowledge receipt of cnecK. I and tho uoga arnveu safe, 

 antJf'aro'lO'iraaiil her facuUy all well, 



Believe me to be, .yours most i-tuoereiy, F,. Lavbkack. 



Brodguall, Whitchurch, March a, 18J0. 



That ft. Ilobmson— I have received the baakets, and aire the key-. 



Tbt-v ate lust the thing, and 1 hope the two canine travelers will 



arrive safe anil give every satisfaction. I have bad them ont dally. 



and am mocb. pleased with Fred, He wUl really make a slashing ana 



