148 
FOREST AND STREAM 
J $atmal gistorn. 
[2AI# Department Is now under the c/utrge of a competentNaturallsU 
indorsed by the Smithsonian Institution, and mil henceforth be made a 
trtecuU feature of this paper. AU communications, notes , queries, re- 
tnarks, 'and seasonal observations will receive careful attention .] 
THE BOHEMIAN WAXWING. 
I T is rare that ornithologists have a good opportunity to 
study the habits of the Bohemian waxwing (Ampelis 
garrulus), which is an inhabitant of circumpolar regions, 
and only irregularly wanders into the limits of the United 
States during the coldest winters. Our knowledge of the 
life of this bird is therefore very meagre, and it is with es¬ 
pecial gratification that we present the appended commu¬ 
nications from gentlemen in Minneapolis, Minn., where the 
waxwiugs have been abundant during the winter. The 
reader will call to miDd previous notes upon this biTd 
which have appeared in Forest and Stream from Oapt. 
Bendire and others. The first letter is from Mr. P. L. 
Hatch, and is as follows;— 
—The 23d of Febrnary was very cold here, the mercury indicating 
more than 20° below zero. A change to milder weather followed, and on 
the 25th it was delightfully pleasant, on which day I met a flock of 50 or 
til) Bohemian wax-winas (.Ampelis garrulus). They were distributed 
loosely on bushes and shrub-oaks, and a few perched on the bulwarks of 
the bridge over a hollow containing the Silver Cascade. Pausing to ob¬ 
serve these by no means common winter visitants from the regions still 
further to the north or ns. I was surprised to see that they were busily 
engaged catching insects lu the air, precisely after the manner of the 
true flycatcher. I strained my eyes to see if I could detect the insect in 
the clear sunshine, but its proportions were too small. Tet I could dis¬ 
tinctly Bee the birds open their bills in the act of seizing them. Some 
teams passing over the bridge abruptly, brought them all together In an 
oak, ihe top of which was about on a level with and close to the abutment 
of the bridge. Here I stopped my horse within fifteen feet of them, and 
so intent were they in their watch for their new food that they per¬ 
mitted me to observe their individual markings, and occasionally count 
tho several “sealing wax” tippings of their wings, a treat never before 
my fortune to enjoy to Buch an extent. I finally left them, but return¬ 
ing an hour later found them sltll darting on t into the air at all elevations 
from close to the ground near the creek to 100 or 150 feet elevation, and 
seizing something invisible to me, in no way different from the warblers 
or flycatchers. Has this characteristic been noticed by naturalitsf 
and what were they eating! 
Mr. Tlios. S. Roberts also recorded his observations in 
the following notes:— 
In your issue of February 17th, I noticed a communication in regard 
to tlm Bohemian wax-wing or chatterer, asking whether it had been ob¬ 
served during the past winter in any other part of the United States than 
Oregon. A large number of these birds have spent the winter about 
Minneapolis. They made their appearance early in December, and are 
still present, (March 22d). They are all almost invariably to be seen in 
flocks, usually of 10 to 30 individuals, hut sometimes of 100 or more. 
They are seldom found outside tho city limits. Their food has been 
whal, few berries they could find, buds, and almost any eatable thing 
which they could pick up. Notwithstanding this seemingly precarious 
manner of living, they are in good condition. These birds can easily 
be approached within gunshot, and often much nearer. When shot at 
they fly off in a dose, compact (lock. The iris of the chatterer is dark 
red, but varies somewhat in different individuals. 
seen at Glen's Falls, N- Y., and strangest of all a whip¬ 
poorwill was heard. DeKay says: It airives the latter 
part of April, which is probably a rather early date for the 
northern portion of the State (A. N. Cheney),.. .“C. S. R." 
writes that at Niagara Falls the first robins were seen 
March 8 th, and bloe-birds on March 12th; but as six inches 
of snow fell on the 20 th, the robins becoming weak from 
want of food, became food themselves for the vast number 
of crows that go there to pass the winter. No other spring 
birds had appeared up to March 24th. 
BIRDS OF FORT WAYNE, 1ND. 
BY G. AUG. SMITH. 
I HAVE been collecting birds about sixteen years in this 
vicinity, and am able to send you a list of species likely 
to be found about here in winter. Some, like the evening 
and pine grosbeaks, and the wax-wing, make their appear¬ 
ance only at long intervals. The list is as follows:— 
Golden eagle. Khre. 
Bald eagle. Not rare. 
Gray eagle. Not rare. 
Red-tailed hawk. Rare in winter; common in summer. 
Great-horned owl. Common all the year. 
Mottled owl. Common winter and summer. 
Barn owl ( Strix Jlatnmea). Rare; has occurred Beycral timea in 
winter. 
Long-eared owl. A wiuter hird; rare in summer. 
Short-eared owl (Brachyotus palustrts.) Seen in wiuter only. 
Barred owl. Common winter and summer. 
Sparrow owl (Glaucidiuvi passerinuui ). ^Occasional in winter only. 
Snowy owl. This is found, but not every winter. 
Downy woodpecker. Common at all times. 
Hairy woodpecker. Common in all seasons. 
Yellow-bellied woodpecker. Not seen every winter. 
Black log-cock. Not rare in winter, and common in summer. 
Red-bellied woodpecker. Common lu wimer, and not rare in snm- 
mer. 
Red headed woodpecker. Not seen every winter; common in sum- 
Golden-winged woodpecker. Rare in winter; common In summer. 
Kingfisher. Not taken every winter, but common in summer, 
Golaen-crested wren. Common this winter; none in summer. 
Wax-Wing. Not seen every winter, and never in summer. 
Cedar-bird. Common throughout the year. 
Butcher-bird. Common in winter; rare in summer. 
White-rumped shrike. Common winter and summer. 
White-bellied nuthatch. Common at all times. 
Brown creeper. Not rare either winter or summer. 
Tufted titmouse. Commonly found all the year. 
Chickadee. Common both summer and winter. 
Shore lark. Common in winter and summer. 
Evening grosbeak. Occurs some winters. 
Pine grosbeak. Not observed every winter. 
Purple finch. Common during the winter, bntnonc are seen in sum- 
White-winged crossbill. It is found s 
winters, but never i 
Red-poll linnet. Common in winter; none in summer. 
Snow bunting. Common in winter only. 
Lapland longspur. Common in winter; none in summer. 
Snow bird. Common during the winter. 
Chipping sparrow. Common in winter; rave in summer. 
Song sparrow. Not found every winter; abundant in suumiur. 
Cardinal grosbeak. Common both summer and winter. 
Crow. Common throughout the year. 
Blue jay. Common at all times, 
Wild pigeon. Common in summer, mid rare in winter. 
Mourning dove. Common throughout the year. 
W T ild turkey. Never rare. 
Ruffed grouse. Common winter and summer. 
Prairie hen ( Oupklonia cupido) . Not rare at any season. 
Quail [Ortyx vlrginianus). Common always. 
Red-breasted mergauser. Occurs in winter. 
EARLY SPRING ON THE HUDSON. 
♦This la a bird of the Pacific coast. Is there not an 
here?— Ed. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Inresponse to your "Invitation,” I send you some of my 
notes for February and March taken in tills vicinity:— 
February 18 th. —Clear and warm. Found a single liver 
leaf (Ihpatieu triloba ) in bloom on a high rocky hill facing 
the souLh. These flowers always bloom at this spot much 
earlier than at any other place in the vicinity; but I never 
found them before earlier than February 23d. Saw a but¬ 
terfly in the same place. 
February 20«7t.—Several liepaticas in bloom on the same 
hill, 
February 22d.—Followed a pair of blue-birds till the fe¬ 
male entered a hole in the dead limb of an apple tree, very 
probably its annual nest. It appeared again in a few mo¬ 
ments, and flew off with its mate, which had remained 
near by singing. This is the first indication of house 
cleaning that I have noticed among the birds this season. 
March 5th. —Clear and warm; light south wind. Saw a 
flock of about twenty robins moving north—the first real 
spring birds that 1 have seen; also saw several red-winged 
blackbirds (AgcUeus phmniceus) in the hushes bordering a 
pond. 
March 6 th. —Another warm day. More red-wings have 
arrived during the night, and they are now quite numer¬ 
ous; saw a flock high iu the air flying north. Started a 
flock of six black ducks (Areas obscura) at the pond. The 
robins are getting to be common. 
March 7th. —Saw a rusty graeklc (Scoleeophagus ferrugi¬ 
nous). Noticed bluebirds looking around for a place to 
build; flying about old dead stumps and holes in trees. 
March 12 th. —Golden-winged woodpecker seen. 
March 1374,— Noticed several fox sparrows (Passerella il- 
taca). 
March 22(4—Crow blackbirds have arrived. 
March 83 (1. —Phcube bird (Sayornis fuscus) and cow-bird 
(Molothruspecans) have arrived. The pheebe is rather late 
this spring; last year it made its appearance March 13ih. 
March 24t4.—Hylas heard pipiDgiu the evening. 
March 31st.—Several violets in bloom on the lawn; these 
violets were originally cultivated, but have spread them¬ 
selves over the lawn, where they have been growing for 
years. They always flower much earlier than the real wild 
violet and still retain their sweet scent. 
tiiverdale on- Hudson, April 5th. E. P. Bicknell. 
Notes from our Corrf.spondents.-W. H. Bernard 
(Wilmington, N. C.,) informs us that a young woodcock 
was caught in Duplin county, N. C., March 21st, which 
Was about six weeks old, and an old oiie which seemed to 
have a nest near by. This is considered an unusually 
southern point for this bird to breed-During the second 
week in March robins, blue-birds, and cedar-birds were 
American Falconidas, Etc. —Mr. Robert Ridgway has 
long been a special student of the hawk family ( Falconidm ). 
He has just printed as a part of the Bulletin of the U. S. 
Geological Survey, Yol. II, No. 2, a paier of 82 pages and 
two plates, entitled “Studies of the American Falcon kite. ” 
Mr. Ridgway has taken up the 15 genera following Fisus, 
which is represented by the sharp-shinned and Cooper's 
hawks. Most ol these arc South American, and many of 
them the author has defined aDew. The characters and 
Bynonomy of each species arc given, and its variations of 
plumage discussed. The paper is an important addition 
to the literature of the classification of birds, 
The same Bulletin contains a more readable, if not more 
important paper, also from Mr. Ridgway’s pen, upon the 
Ornithology of Guadalupe Island, based on notes and 
collections made by Dr. Edward Palmer. Guadalupe 
Island is off the coast of Southern California, 220 miles 
southwest of San Diego. Every one of the species is dis¬ 
tinct from, though nearly related to, those found on the 
neighboring mainland; among the Passeres, the closest re¬ 
semblance is to Rocky Mountain forms. Tbc land birds 
inhabitingt.be islands during the breeding season are the 
following: Regvlus calendula var. obscurus, Ridgw.; Sal- 
pindes obsoletus vnr. guadeloupcnsis, Ridgw.; Thryomanct 
brevicauda, Ridgw.; Owrpodacus umpkis, ltidgw.; Juneoin- 
sularis, Ridgw.; Pipilo vuiculatus var. comobrinus, Ridgw.; 
Oolaptes mexicaum var. rufipiteus, Ridgw.; Polybornslutosus, 
Ridgw.; and three birds unidentified. 
WINTER RARITIES IN MINNESOTA. 
Minneapolis, Minn., April 5th, 1876. 
Editoh Forest and Stream:— 
In addition to the Bohemian wax wings, of which I have already 
written yon, we have been favored thla winter by the presence or a con¬ 
siderable anmber of evening grosbeaks (Hespcriphrma tesperlina). 
They arrived about the 19th of December. Last year they remained 
here as late us April 23d—after many of the summer birds had arrived. 
This bird is much more domestic in its habits than the chatterer. They 
frequent an island in the Mississippi Itiver at this point, which is cov¬ 
ered with dwelling houses, and is the constant thoroughfare between the 
east and west divisions of thiB city. But on tbi3 Island are a great many 
large trees. They alight on and around the honses, but are nevertheless 
somewhat changeable in the degree of iheir timidity, at one time al¬ 
lowing close inspection, and then again being rather shy, although one 
can always approach within twenty or thirty yards of them, and I think 
that, on the whole, they may he regarded ub tamo and unsuspicious. 
Like the purple finch (Carpodacuepurpurea) they often feed by hanging 
out on the ends of branches, and tearing of the buds width form a great 
portion ol their food. Such fare they could easily obtain in the woods 
as well as upon this public island, so that their preference appears to be 
for the society of man. They have a sharp, dear whistle, and at timea 
a note somewhat resembling that of the chatterer. Their flight is nn- 
(luiatory and erratic though qnite rapid. One very marked and constant 
difference in plumage between the male and female of this species is to 
be found in the coloration of the tail feathers. In the female these are 
all tipped (on ihe inner web) with pure white, the ouler feather broadly, 
and the ontsidc one of all on each side has a Binall spot of the same 
color on tho outer weh also. The extent of these markings seems tor 
depend upon the age, being less in tho younger specimens, and increasing 
with age. In the male there is only a very slight indication of such 
marking, and that is on the extreme tips of the outer feathers alone. 
During Febrnary and March of 1875. the pine grosbeak ( Pimcola sir 
vekator) was very plenty in this locality, but 1 have seen none as yet 
this season. A flock of golden-eyed ducks (Bucephula americana) lias 
passed the winter in the open water below St, Anthony Falls. A few 
docks remain in that pool every winter, despite the length and severity 
of tho season. Thomas S. ItoneuTs. 
DESPISED FOOD FISHES. 
WASHtNOTON, April 8d, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream :— 
In reply to several inquiries as to what I meant by saying that Eu¬ 
ropeans eat "rags," I will say that It was written rays, and ttyit the 
order Balk, according-to Gill, includes nine genera of these singular 
Ashes, from the sea-hat, or devil-fish of the Carolina coast (C’erataplemt 
-cumpirus), the rays, skates, stingaree, etc., to the torpedo, or cramp-iish 
(Torpedo occidentiUU) . These fish are eaten In Europu, hut throngls 
predjndice are bnf.Jlitt.Ie used as food In this country even by the very 
poorest class. There are tons upon tons of fish thrown away, fcpi 
to hogs, or made into fertilizers on the coast, and people within a 
few miles suffering for food. I have heard a fisherman on Long Island 
Sonud say that he was never poor enough to eat sturgeon l His grand¬ 
father had probably told him that it was not good, and he had not had 
independence enough to try this excellent fish. This predjndice is com¬ 
mon, and If you have never eaten sturgeon, properly cooked, just try it 
at the first opportunity. Get a few slices, moderately 1 hick, put tlu-m 
iu a pot or pan of water and parboil them to get rid of the oil; then roll 
in crumb of cracker or egg, just as you weald a veal cutlet, and fry. 
This makes a veal callel that beats the original by far, and yon are suie 
that it is fall "six weeks old," us the butcher always certifles In regard 
to tho veal. Frbd Mather. 
Arrivals at the Centennial Aquarium for the week endino 
Ai'tlti,Brit. —Six gopher turtles, TssluUo polyphonies, habitat Florida. 
Presented by Mr, Greene Smith. One rough cbnb sucker, (Jamposioma 
ammulum, habitat New York. Presented by Mr. Harry Boll. Fifle n 
grayling (young), Thymallus tricolor, habitat New York. 
Fred Mather, Sopl. 
gen and giver 
FISH IN SEASON IN APRIL. 
Brook Trout, Sulmo Fontinalls. Land locked Salmon, SalihO Glorcri. 
ESTor list of seasonable trout flies for April see onr issue of March 
23d. _ 
Flan in Market .—Tho supply of fish during the week has 
been liberal, and prices without material change. North 
River shad were abundant, the best roc fish selling for 75 
cents each, while Delaware River’s bring 50 cents; striped 
bass are worth 10 to 20 cents per pound, according to size 7 
smells, 15 cents for Northern and 20 cents for green; sal¬ 
mon, 50 cents; mackerel, 25 cents each; white perch, 18 
centsperpound; Spanish mackerel, (frozen) 50 cents;green 
turtle, 22 cents; terrapin, $12 pordozeu; frost fish, 8 cents 
per pound; halibut, 16 cents; haddock, 8 cents; codfish, 
10 cents; blackfish, 15 cents; flounders, 111 cents; eels, 18 
cents; lobsters scarce, 13 cents; turbot, 25 cents; scollops, 
$1 per gallon; soft clams, 40 to 60 cents per 100 ; while- 
fish, 20 cents per'pound; pickerel, 18 cents; perch (yellow), 
12 cents; brook trout from Canada, 50 cents; Long Island, 
$1; pompano, $1; hard shelL crabs, 40 cents per dozen. 
Striped Bass at Newburgh. —It having been reported 
that there was good striped bass fishing in the vicinily of 
Newburgh during the spring months, we have been at some 
pains to ascertain definitely as to the truth of the Teport. 
The result of our inquiries is to the effect that there are a 
few fish, ranging from one to three pounds, caught, but 
not in numbers sufficient to warrant an expedition for Ihe 
purpose. During the past week small striped buss luivo 
been taken in large numbers near Poughkeepsie. There 
can be no doubt but that these fish pass the wiuter in fresh 
water near the head of the river, and probably on their 
way down are "not on the feed" until salt water is reached, 
They pass through Spuyten Duyvll Creek into the Harlem 
River, and then into the numerous small creeks which indent 
the Westchester side of Long Island Sound, where they 
commence feeding on shrimp. 
—More than one of our readers will be gratified to learn 
that the oelebrated salmon pictures of Waiter M. Brackett, 
Esq., of Boston, entitled the “Rise," "Leap," "Struggle," 
and "Landed,” which were sold at a high figure to an En¬ 
glish connoisseur some lime ago, have been duplicated by 
the artist, and will be included in the Massachusetts collec¬ 
tion at the Centennial Exhibition. They are now on exhi¬ 
bition in Boston, together with the rest of this collection 
for Philadelphia, and will be for some time to come. If not 
sold at the Centennial, they will be offered in New York 
next fall. They are greatly admired, and greatly exceed 
any tiling of tho kind extant, so far as we can learn. We 
understand that Mr. Brackett has several times come within 
an ace of selling them, though the figure, which we believe 
is $ 4,000 for the set, may seem high in these tight times. 
However, they are cheap at a much higher price. 
Waterproofing Fish Lines— Some process for water¬ 
proofing silk and linen lines so as to render them equal in 
quality to the best imported article, has long been sought 
by American anglers; and while experiments with silk lines 
seem to have been quite satisfactory, the methods employed 
on linen lines have been wholly inadequate. We were cog¬ 
nizant long ago of the eminent success attained by Walter 
M. Brackett, Esq., of Boston, in manipulating silk lines 
with boiled linseed oil, and so stated in this journal at that 
time, having been permitted to make careful examination 
of the specimens thus prepared. Subsequently, in answer 
to a correspondent, it was asserted in our columns by an un¬ 
fortunate inadvertence that limn linos were so treated; and 
