86 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 8 t 1881. 



learned subsequently that they had fished this same pool some 

 I welve years running. 



-Now, 1 trust my esteemed friend and critic does not belong 

 to this class, but is really a friend of the overworked "clerk," 

 and that he will add a leaf to the sportsman's library by giv- 

 ing ns from his facile pen the result, of his experiences de a 

 land of which little is written. 



He can maintain his incog.; we shall relishthe truth even if 

 •we don't know the author, whom it would give me great pleas- 

 ure to meet notwithstanding his criticism, of which I will not 

 complain if only he will supplement it with a version of his 

 own. 



I intend to visit New Brunswick again soon, atid hope to 

 try for salmon at Gaspe Point, and I have no doubt my friend 

 can furnish valuable information de the country with which 

 he is so familiar. 



In conclusion, let me ask my friend not to "go for him " It 

 isn't pretty, it savors too much of a hostile, spirit ; but let us 

 rather imitate the spirit of good old Ik. Walton, and endeav- 

 or to disseminate charity and brotherly kindness. Let's shake 

 hands and he friends. ' Gkokgk A. Fat. 



Mmdm, (Mrin. Feb. 28. 



T 



^ntnraJ ^iptorg 



MICHIGAN GAME NOMENCLATURE. 



REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NOMENCLATURE OF THE MICH- 

 IGAN SPORTSMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



IE careful analysis of classification with reference to 

 n genera submitted by your committee on nomen- 

 he session of 1880 will" we think, sutb'ei.-.ntly in- 

 ilicttte the methods adopted by your present, committee in 

 arriving at the conclusions and nomenclature, '-both popular 

 and scientific," recommended in this report. It will there- 

 fore he unnecessary to occupy your time in the enunciation 

 of our analysis of the genera herein considered, and we will 

 proceed aI once to our task, and continue the work of making 

 a correctly named list o r Michigan game animals of "fur, fin 

 and feather," by naming a portion of our waterfowl. We do 

 not intend to make a complete list of any order or family, 

 but confine ourselves to such specieB as occur either habitual- 

 ly or accidentally iu our State. As belonging to the latter 

 class we may mention tue swans. There, are but two species 

 that can be considered as belonging to our fauna, even acci- 

 dentally. These arc the whistling swan (Cygnus ameriranvs), 

 also called the American swan, and the trumpeter swan 

 (Oygnns Imccaiiator,) 



Or the goose family there are but two genera containing 

 species likely to be found within the borders of our common- 

 wealth. 



The goose genus, proper, all having bright or light-colored 

 feet « 



id bills, and while i r much varied plumage — namely, 

 the white-fronted goose (Aimer albij'r»ns), also called prairie 

 brant, ami speckle belly. This is probably identical with the 

 "white-f routed goose of Europe. 



Snow goose (A nfer hi/pei bori-ns), also called white brant. 



Lesser snow goose (Anser byperhurrus), variety eddaliis. 

 Like the snow goose, only smaller. 



Blue goose (Anser cceruleseens), also called bald brant. 



The brant genus, proper, all having black feet and bills, 

 and the head and neck black with white spaces, the general 

 color of the bodv being gray, namely : 



The Canada brant ( Urnn'ta canadensis), also called Canada 

 goose, gray goose and common wild goose. This is the only 

 goose, or, properly speaking, brant, that is common in Michi- 

 gan Tllerfe is a variety, wuwpwri&a, which is not known to 

 have occurred iu this State, while the 



Hutchius brant (Rranta canadensis), var. hutchmsii, is 

 quite generally distributed, and is smaller than the Canada 

 braut. 



The brant (Branta bernirla), also called brant goose, bar- 

 nacle goose. There is a well-defined variety of this brant, 

 viz. : 



The black brant (Branta berniela var. nigrireins), on which 

 the black is more extensive. 



Of i mr ducks there are three sub-families — viz., the^l ncdinee, 

 the river or fresh-water ducks; the Faligulinm, the sea or 

 deep-water ducks, and the Merejinm, the fish ducks. 



Uf our shoal water or river ducks we will enumerate as be- 

 longing to our avi-fauna : 



The' mallard, Ana* boselias. The male is also called the 

 green-head, the female the gray duck. 



The black duck, Anon obscura, also called dusky duck, and 

 black mallard. 



The pinnated duck, Anas acuta, also called the sprigtail. 



The gadwall, Anas strepenm, also called gray duck. 



The widgeon, Anas americaiui, also called the American 

 widgeon, and baldpate. 



The shoveler, Anas clypeatn, also called broad-bill. 



The wood-duck, Alias sponsa, also called summer duckand 

 tree duck. 



Of the teal genus we have heue : 



The green-winged teal, QueJWedulacarolineiw's. 



The blue-winged teal. Quei-quedula. diseors. 



Of the deep water or diving ducks found more or less ha- 

 bitually on our waters dviring their migrations, we notice: 



The canvas-back duck, Fvlignla ridlisneria. 



The red-head duck, Fuligula ferina, var. Amerimna, also 

 called pochard, red-headed widgeon and mfus necked duck. 



The blue-bill duck, Fuligulu marila. also called big black 

 head, greater scaup duck, raft duck, flocking fowl and shuf- 

 fler. 



The little blue-bill, Fuligulu affirm^ with the same local 

 names as are applied to the next preceding species, with the 

 word little prefixed. 



The ring-necked duck, Fuligula collnris ; sometimes im- 

 properly called blue-bill. 



The golden eye duck, Fulignla clangula, also called garrot 

 and wlilstle wing. 



The buffle-headed duck, Fidigula albeola, also called but- 

 ter-ball, spirit duck and dipper. 



The Lake Huron scoter, Fuligida bimtwulaUt, also called 

 American black scoter and coppemosc. 



Of the fish ducks we have three species— viz. t 



The goosander, Uergus merganser, also called merganser, 

 fish duck and sheldrake. 



The red-breasted merganser, Mergm serrat»r, also called 

 fish duck and sheldrake. 



The Hooded Merganser, Mergm cucullatus. Also called 

 saw-billed diver. 



This list embraces the more important species of the water- 

 fowl that frequent Michigan marshes and waters, or that will 



he likely to be captured by the duck shooting members of 

 this association. Yet there is no doubt but others do occur, 

 and we here beg the privilege of requesting members of the 

 Michigan Sportsmen's Association who may chance to secure 

 any rare specimens of ducks or waders, or other birds, to 

 send them with a statement of the time and place of capture 

 and as near as may be the number of the same kind observed ; 

 also the color of the eyes, bill and feet when first taken. 

 The specimens will be returned to the sender if desired. If we 

 would all cultivate the habit of observing and carefully not- 

 ing novelties, anomalies aud unusual occurrences, it would 

 add immensely to the pleasure of our recreation trips, and 

 would give us something to think of besides slaughter and a 

 "big bag." 



Tour committee ask the further attention of the associa- 

 tion for a few minutes while we review a portion of the re- 

 port on nomenclature made last year, which was accepted, 

 and the recommendations adopted, excepting that part per- 

 taining to Ortyx ririji'niamis, called quail at the North and 

 partridge at the South. We do not propose to go into a mi- 

 nute description of the three birds involved in this question, 

 as they arc too well known to intelligent sportsmen to require 

 it. But w T e wish to submit a few generalizations. The name 

 quail has been applied to the (loiurnhr communis for ages. 

 No one disputes its correctness. It belongs to the European 

 bird that has been quite largely introduced into this country 

 within the last few years. It is equally true and undisputed 

 that the quail, Oaturnix comnmnis, sometimes called "migra- 

 tory" quail, is distinct from our American bird Ortyx virgin- 

 iawus, not only specifically but generically distinct. Inhabits 

 these two birds differ as essentially as the" barnyard fowl from 

 the Guinea hen. It is manifestly improper to call two en- 

 tirely different birds by the same name, and as the name 

 quail properly and indisputably belongs to Ooturnix com- 

 munis, it certainly does not belong to Ortyx nirginianus. 



Again the name partridge as indisputably belongs ioPerdia: 

 CfylerM. No one disputes U. Now, although our Ortyx is nearer 

 to Perdix than it is to Ooturnix, yet it is likewise essentially dif- 

 ferent from the former. Ornithologists acknowledge it to lie 

 generically different. And as Perdix was christened part- 

 ridge in the vernacular long before OHyx was known to civil- 

 ized man, he is certainly entitled to the name. As before 

 stated, it is manifestly improper to call two distinct birds 

 by the same name. Therefore our Ortyx should not be called 

 partridge. In the light of this simple logic we see why the 

 controversy that has been so warmly carried on for years as 

 to whether our bird should be called a quail or a partridge 

 has been so entirely unsatisfactory. The simple fact is, he 

 should not he. called either— because he is not either. The 

 controversy has had just as much point as would a discussion 

 of the question as to whether man should be called an ape or 

 a baboon. He should not be called either, because he is 

 neither. 



Then what shall we call our Ortyx ? The term Bob White 

 has been proposed for him, and isoccasionally used, butit isnot 

 euphonions, and does not seem to meet with favor. Although 

 it is not inappropriate as applied to him it will not suit his 

 cousins. It would be manifestly improper to say the Cali- 

 fornia Bob White, and the mountain Bob White, etc. Their 

 voices would belie the name. But the name recommended 

 by your committee last year is not liable to any of these, ob- 

 jections. It is euphonious, it is short, easily written and 

 easily spokeu, it is appropriate to all our American birds, of 

 what has been called the quail genus It sounds well, and is 

 appropriate to say the Virginia colin, the California colin, the 

 mountain colin, the Messena colin, etc. Then again, thename 

 Colin has the right of priority. It was used in probably the 

 earliest, descriptions of our bird. It is given in both Web- 

 ster's and Worcester's unabridged dictionaries as the name of 

 out bird. Also in Chamber's Encylopedia, and in Henry 

 Thornton Wharton's "List of British Birds," which is aittbor- 

 ative, we find "Ortyx nirginianus— ~V\vp.vAaa colin." It 

 seems quite important that an undisputed name should be 

 adopted for all our game, so that when they are named in our 

 laws there will he no ambiguity about the meaning of those 

 laws. We therefore respectfully recommend the adoption of 

 (Min as the vernacular or common nameof Ortyx mrginianvs. 



All of which is respectfully submitted, 



E. S. Holmes, 

 J. C. Parker, 

 A. J. Holt. 



Moved by Mr. Higbythat the recommendations embodied 

 in the report of the committee on nomenclature be adopted as 

 the sense af this association. Carried. 



Masticating Power 0? Snakes.— A valued correspond- 

 ent calls our attention to the fact that in a recent article on 

 the rattlesnake, the blacksnake is reported to kill the former, 

 and after "biting off his head " to swallow him. 



It will be evident to any one familiar with the dentition of 

 serpents that the f mi mentioned is one which could never be 

 performed. The teeth of snakes are used solely as aids to 

 swallowing and enable the snake literally to crawl outside of 

 its prey. A snake holds its victim and can puncture and 

 scratch its food, but cannot, masticate it. 



The same writer notes that more than one well known 

 authority on Natural History state that the rattlesnake is a 

 tree climber. Our correspondent decidedly doubts the truth 

 of thic statement, and in this we believe him to be right. 

 We think that the fact that the rattlesnake is not a tree 

 climber is well established. Many of our readers, however, 

 will remember Audubon's spirited plate of the rattlesnake 

 attacking the nest of the mocking bird. 



Pox Feeding With Ravens— No. 4. Feb. \5.—Piditor 

 Forest and /Stream : A few weeks ago two dogs chased a 

 large buck on to the ice of one of the lakes near here and 

 killed it. The carcass remaining on the ice soon attracted 

 many ravens and foxes. Wishing to secure a raven for the 

 purpose of having it mounted by a taxidermist, I thought this 

 a good opportunity, so repaired to the spot for that purpose. 

 On approaching the place where the buck lay I saw five 

 ravens taking their morning meal, but was much surprised to 

 see a fox also with the ravens, all feasting upon the same 

 carcass at the same time. They did not appear to have any 

 enmity or fear of each other, but were all huddled together, 

 and seemed only iutent on securing a goodmeal, each regard- 

 less of his strange neighbor. Is it not strange to see this 

 depredator of the poultry yard associating with fowl ; or is it 

 common for them to mingle with carnivorous birds without 

 any desire of molesting them f Can any of your numerous 

 correspondents inform me. C. Fsnton. 



The occurrence reported by Mr. Fenton, though unusual 

 enough here in the East where the carcasses of game animals 

 are rarely permitted to lie on the ground, would not surprise 

 any one used to hunting in winter in the country west of the 

 Missouri River. It is no unusual thing in the Rocky Mount- 

 ain region to see ravens, coyotes and foxes all feeding on the 

 Bame carcass. Moreover, the wolf poisoners often find lying 

 about an animal that they have put out as bait, gray wolves, 

 coyotes, foxes, eagles, ravens and magpies. Hunger makes 

 strange companions. 



We do not think that the fact that a fox does not attack a 

 raven feeding with him on a deer is very remarkable. We 

 should lose a considerable portion of our respect for the judg- 

 ment and acuetenesf of Reynard if he were to waste his time 

 in killing ravens when he had an opportunity to fill his Belly 

 with good deer meat. 



Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enuckator, (L.) V.) AND Robin 

 (Turdus migratorhis, L.) in Winter. — lam somewhat sur- 

 prised to observe from the notes of certain correspondents 

 that have been published in your columns of late that they 

 consider the occurrence of the pine grosbeak during the win- 

 ter months in the States of Maine aud Massachusetts as some- 

 thing unusual. Their observations must surely be confined 

 to the more cultivated and populous districts, which the 

 birds rarely care to visit unless forced to do so by extreme 

 severity of weather, from its usual haunts iu the deep forest. 

 It is quite a common bird in this Province all the winter, gen- 

 erally keeping iu the woods, but in time of deep snow visits 

 our gardens to feed upon the dried berries of the white thorn 

 and mountain ash. I also observe that the wintering of the 

 robin in Maine is considered unusual. Here we have small 

 flocks frequenting the spruce woods every winter, especially 

 in Point. Pleasant Park, a tract of a few hundred acres cov- 

 ered with spruce and pine, which forms the northeastern por- 

 tion of our Halifax peninsula, and is washed by the waters 

 of the harbor on both sides. I often perceive "stray robins 

 about the shore and I have an idea that when berries fall 

 short they try the shore at ebb tide for amphipods or any 

 small marine' invertebrates they can find. 



Halifax, N. 8., Feb. 22. J. Matthews Jones. 



Elmira, N. Y., February 22. — I secured yesterday, the 

 21st inst., a female pine grosbeak (Pinicola. enueleator) from 

 a flock of about a dozen that came to feed on the bin Is of the 

 evergreens in our grounds. This is the first specimen I have 

 secured or observed in this locality during the last four years 

 in which I have been a collector and observer of birds. They 

 were very tame and fed on the trees close to the house, ut- 

 tering a soft, plaintive note as they moved about. 



E. B. Gleason. 



How California Qrr ail Stand Colo Weather. — On Sept. 

 30, 1880, the society received by rail, from San Francisco, 

 three pairs each of the mountain quail (Oroirtvx: pietus) ami 

 valley quail Uaplwtm euli Jo miens). They were placed in 

 outside aviaries, the sides and backs of which were of plank 

 and the tops and fronts of wire netting. As they were ex- 

 cessively wild, a small box, with one end entirely open, was 

 placed in each aviary to serve as a hiding-place. When the 

 cold weather commenced I felt no uneasiness about the 

 mountain quail, as I had shot them in the Carson Valley, 

 Nevada, in six inches of snow and the cold so intense that 1 

 got a frosted ear. About, the valley quail I did not feel so 

 sure, but determined to let them alone, and to-day they are 

 all alive and in good condition. Three of the mountain email 

 killed themselves by floundering, the remainder are doing 

 well, but remain as shy and wild as wheu first received. 

 Therefore I cannot agree with " Ohico," who says : "There 

 is no doubt about it, the birds (vally quail) cannot stand the 

 cold weather." If it has not been cold this winter I would 

 like to know the definition of the word. 



Zoological (Harden, Cincinnati. Frank J. Thompson. 



A Hippopotami's for Philadelphia.— Some time since 

 Mr. A. E. Brown, Superintendent of the Philadelphia Zo- 

 ological Gardens, at Fairmount Park, purchased the female 

 hippopotamus which last year was such an attractive feature 

 of Cooper & Bailey's Circus. 



The animal is now at the Central Park menagerie, in this 

 city, where it will remaiu until the advent of warm weather. 

 It will probably be sent to Philadelphia in May. 



A Philadelphia paper thus describes the quarters which it 

 is to inhabit at Fairmount Park : 



The unwieldy creature, when received here, will be placed 

 in the elephant house, where a cage has been prepared next 

 to that of" the Thinoceros. It is a roomy apartment, formerly 

 occupied by the giraffes, but has undergone considerable al- 

 teration. A division has been made in the centre aud one- 

 half the inclosure converted into a tank, which will hold 

 seven feet of water. The bottom has been cemented and 

 along the sides of brick are steam pipes, with Which the 

 water will be kept at a certain temperature. At the rear end. 

 is a platforoi, which leads from the tank to a platform above, 

 covering the other portion of the inclosure. 



Spuing Notes.— Saw first blackbirds iu large number* 

 January 30; since then our section is immersed in another 

 cold wave, which will make them wish they had remained a 

 little longer in the land of Dixie. W. N. B. 



Buffalo, N. Y.— The first robin of the season was noticed 

 here this morning, February 24, at 8 a. m., while the ther- 

 mometer was four degrees above zero. The bird was by no 

 means subdued, but sang cheerily. Charles Linden. 



Glasses kob Shooting— Lockport, N. Y.— I noticed 

 "Anon's" inquiry for "short-sight shooting glasses." I 

 think he will find relief by using spectacles framed with a very 

 low "nose piece." If he wears straight "temples," for an 

 experiment he can put them on up-side down. If he uses 

 " riding temple" (which he should do while shooting), he 

 will have to get frames made to order with low nose piece.. 

 If hiB eyes are both alike he can have frames made with 

 double nose piece— one long and one in centre— aud can re- 

 verse them at pleasure. Sometimes persons affected with 

 myopia require lenses of different focus, when the latter 

 frames would not answer. If "Anon" finds any relief by 

 the above suggestion I hope he will acknowlege it in Forest 

 and Stream for the benefit of many of its readers similarly 

 afflicted. J' L - I 5 - 



