318 
FOREST AND STREAM 
carping geniuses are silenced in regard to shad, and in 
their.ehagrin turn tlieir pop guns against the salmon. But 
it will be all in vain. The Commissioners are men of char¬ 
acter and ability, and know what they are about; they 
have thoroughly investigated the subject and are quite as 
likely to be right about it as our Higganum critic. We do 
not know how we can stato more definitely the fact that 
salmon were caught down the river than we have done. 
We have read the letter of .Commissioner Bill, of Lyme, 
to the elfect that, during the week euding 28th May, quite 
a number were caught by the gill net fishermen at Lyme, 
that they were seen and examined by him, that he preserv¬ 
ed and showed them to numerous persons, and they were 
finny salmon, and were admitted to be such. They were 
from six to nine inches long, and were entangled in the 
fine twine of the net and brought in in Us fold. Such fish 
had never been caught before, and the fishermen did not 
know at first what they were. If Haggauum wants more 
information, Commissioner Bill will give it, with the mimes 
of the fishermen, and if he has not parted with the “sam¬ 
ple salmon” will, doubtless, show it to him. But we will 
not undertake to “convince” those people unless we have 
some better assurance that they have brains to compre¬ 
hend. 
“The Higganum correspondent shows his utter igno¬ 
rance of what he is talking about when he asks the ques¬ 
tion: “Do salmon have teeth on their tongues?” He evi¬ 
dently did not know that salmon do have teeth on their 
tongues—a fact known to everybody who ever examined a 
salmon. If he don’t believe it, let him thrust his finger 
into the first salmon’s mouth he sees, and he will have a 
realizing sense of teeth before he gets it out again. If 
this correspondent had read the laijt report of the Fish 
Commissioners he would know a great deal more about 
these fish than he now knows. The first great planting of 
salmon fry in the Connecticut Rivor by the Commissioners 
was iu 1874; about two years elapse before their scales ap¬ 
pear, and then they go to the salt water. They are then 
known as “smoults." And these were the fish caught and 
given to Commissioner Bill. Those that escaped the gill 
nets and reached salt water will return next year, or per¬ 
haps a part of them the year after; the time of absence in 
salt water differs in different rivers, and the Commission¬ 
ers have yet to discover their habit in the Connecticut. In 
answer to Higganum’s final question we have made inqui¬ 
ry, and learn that $3,000 will be needed this year for the 
work, and that the Fish Committee of the Legislature 
have reported and recommended that sum, and it will 
doubtless be voted without any great Bhow of opposition. 
The people of this State are too well pleased with the suc¬ 
cess oLthe Fish Commissioners thus far to deny any sum 
they may ask. So the ‘good work’ will not lag for want 
of liberal appropriation; and the car of progress will sweep 
along on its track, in spite of all the carping and growling 
of onr Higganum friend and his friends down the river.” 
I hope we shall hear more from both sides, for by keep¬ 
ing the matter open, and getting the people interested iu 
the subject, will help along our fishing interest greatly, I 
believe. C. O. G. 
THE DISPLAY OF AQUARIA IN THE 
AGRICULTURAL BUILDING. 
Perhaps the most curious looking creature is a specimen 
of the hell-bender, an ugly, repulsive-looking establishment 
belonging to the family of salamaudrUhe. The one on 
exhibition is about twelve or fifteen inches long, and has no 
sturnum. The ribs are rudimentary, the legs or fins are 
four in number with four fingers each. The saiamandridte 
have wonderful recuperative powers. The limbs may be 
removed, and in lesB than a year they will grow again. 
There are shown long-finned chub-suckers, black gill 
sun-fish, large black bass, and moon-eye fish or lake her¬ 
ring. In one aquarium are gathered hundreds of small 
specimens of California salmon, the eggs of which were 
sent from California to the United States Commissioner, 
and hatched at Marietta, in Pennsylvania. 
In addition to those named, there will soon bo exhibited 
specimens of sturgeon; also trout from the great lakes, and 
a lot of iresh water fish, to be furnished by the Oltio and 
Michigan Fish Commissioners. An assistant of the Aqua- 
aria Department of the Exhibition is now in Ohio in con¬ 
nection witli the matter. 
Prof. Mather also lias in charge a number of bottleB con¬ 
taining the spawn of shad, young lobsters, and a number 
of specimens of fresh water insects injurious to fish culture. 
The exhibit already attracts large numbers of visitors, 
and when it is completed it will be one of the most inter¬ 
esting features of the Agricultural Building. 
TROUT CULTURE IN A NEW FIELD 
WITH FAIR SUCCESS. 
BosconrL. Wis. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In January, 1875, Mr. A. Wall left my ponds with twenty thousand 
tront eggs for Knoxville, l'enn. Owing to preparations for hatching he 
lost a large number of them. In January, 1876, 1 sent him twenty-live 
thousand more. I received a letter from him a few weeks since, saying 
that he had from six to eight thousand trout from the eggs running 
from five to ten inches long, and twenty thousand healthy fry from the 
last lot of spa an. It will be noticed by fish culturiate that the yearlings 
had grown more rapidly than they do farther north. This I attribute to 
a higher degree of temperature In his water, the spring running as high 
as flfty-six In cold weather. 
To Bhow me how rapidly flsh grew there lie sent a California salmon 
five months old nearly five inches long and fully twice as large os roy 
largest though of the same age. A. Palmer. 
Jfa/wra/ §istorg. 
11 hie Department is under the charge of a competent Naturalist, 
indorsed by the Smithsonian Institution, and will henceforth be made a 
special feature of this paper. AU. communications, notes, queries, re¬ 
marks, and seasonal obseroations will receive careful attention.] 
BIRDS OF LOWER MICHIGAN. 
BY A. B. COVEKT, OF ANN ABBOB, 
{Continued from Page 366.) 
FAMILY TYItANNID.E. 
Tymnnus carolinensis. Kingbird. A common visitor, 
arriving from the south about April 20th. The nest is 
built bv June 10th. It departs southward by the middle of 
[ Prom the Philadelphia Bulletin .] 
Among the many attractive displays is that of the 
Department of Aquaria on the west side of the building. 
It is in charge of Prof. Fred. Mather, who is thoroughly 
posted in fish culture, and it has been arranged not only for 
the interest of the fish-breeder, but for the gratification of 
the people and the study of the naturalist. The display is 
contained in thirty-five large tanks and aquaria, one tank 
alone being twenty-three feet long by seven wide and four 
deep. They are divided in three classes— those for salt 
water specimens, those for fresh water, and tile third for 
cold water fish. To supply salt water, a tank, capable of 
holding sonic ten thousand gallons, lias been built outside 
the building, and brought from the Atlautic by way of the 
Camden and Atlantic Railroad. Fresh water, o£ course, 
is plentiful, but to keep cold water fishes properly, the 
water before reaching the aquarium passes through a coil 
of lead pipe Backed in a box of ice. 
The specimens of fish include not only the edible but 
other species, and some of them quite singular looking. 
The water in the tanks, etc., is kept properly replenished 
by means of a small steam engine, while several of the 
aquaria eoutain plants in such quantities as to preserve a 
perfect adjustment of the relations between the animal and 
vegetable kingdom, so that there is uo need of replenishing 
the water. 
The collection of fish is not quite complete, but will be 
in a short lime. The British Commission have despatched 
a large tank to Bermuda to bring back some of tlie curious 
fishes and corals found there. Among them will be angel 
sharks, brainstorms, madrapores, and other corals, etc. A 
tank has also been sent to the' Atlantic coast, and will re¬ 
turn with specimens of sharks and other sea-water fish. 
Besides these it is expected shortly to have a specimen of a 
catfish weighing over one hundred pounds, and other fish 
from the Mississippi basiD, to be furnished by Messrs. J. 
W. Peters & Co., of Bt. Louis, while the local (Delaware) 
fishes will be furnished by Mr. Rutau, of Gloucester. 
Later ui the season the hatching process will be illustrat¬ 
ed, when trout and salmon begin to spawn. Several of the 
forcing machines are already on exhibition. 
Among the specimens now on exhibition is an aquarium 
containing about a dozen crabs, and the creatures seem to 
skip around as if there were uo cares nor Centennials iu 
the world. Then come specimens of the big king crab, 
or horse-foot, so-called from its resemblance to the horse’s 
hoof. Its movements can be easily seen through the glass, 
--rand its habits well studied. 
these come numerous specimens of terrapin, one 
t, anoiiriuBr’!i.° ne containing about twenty-five, who from 
' *1 11 • ir law movefififtf? seem 10 take tlle wol ' ld cas >’- Iq tlj(i 
^gest JSrrn’apber of green turtles, the heav- 
X weighing over three huuteA pouuds-an immense lei- 
low'y with a big thick head, and 
the U&e of toad fish there are about a uiig? I , ’ 
They uK e curious enough looking, and yet seem jtftascon. 
teuied aiNlke Centennial as when taken from their homvV 
Ot the Iresh water eels, some very fine specimens are 
shown- also, of lake sheepshead or fresh water drum, and 
xoelc bass. Then come specimens of graylings m large 
numbers from Michigau, and Oswego bass or Southern 
phub, 
September. 
Myiarchits crinilus. Great-crested flycatcher. Very 
common in summer, arriving from the south by the 10th 
of May. The eggs are laid about June 10th. It sometimes 
rears two broods in the season, and departs in the fall by 
October 15th. 
Sayomis fuscus. Phoebe-bird. Very common, coming 
from the south about the 1st of April. Tile nest is built 
about June 1st. It rears two broods in the season, and 
leaves us for its southern home by the middle of October. 
/ Contopus borealis. Olive-sided flycatcher. Rare, and not 
seen before May 20th. The lies', is built by the 10th of 
June. By September 1st it- goes south. 
Contopus virens. Wood pewce. Abundant after first or 
second week in June. It remains a little later in autumn 
than the olive-sided. 
1 Empidonax acudicus. Green crested flycatcher. Very 
rare; one specimen taken June I7lli, 1874; no instance re¬ 
corded of its nest being found- 
, Empidonax Trailtii. Traill’s flycatcher. Not common, 
but arrives from the south by llie middle of of May. The 
nest is built about June 10th, and early in September it 
moves southward. 
, Empidonax minimus. Least flycatcher. Very common, 
arriving about the middle of April. The nest is built 
about May 25lh. 
■ Empidonax Jlaviventris. Yellow - bellied flycatcher. 
Very rare; arrives about the 2()th of April. One nest was 
found by J. J. Jones, June 5t.h, 1873. It migrates south¬ 
ward in September with the preceding. 
FAMILY CAPBIMDLGULE. 
Antrostmnm rmiferus. Whippoorwill. Common alter 
the middle of May. The eggs arc laid about June 1st, and 
it departs for the south by the last of August. 
Chord&iies Virginia n un. Night-hawk, or bull-hat. Also 
very common, arriving by the 10th ot May, breeding about 
June 1st, and following the whippoorwill south. 
FAMILY OYP8ELIDAS. 
Chwtura pdasgia, Chimney swift. Abundant after its 
arrival on the last days of April. Its home is finished 
by tlie last week in May. It early leaves for the south, 
few being seen after September 1st. 
FAMILY TROCinLID/B. 
- Trochilus flolubris. Ruby-throated humming-bird. This 
beautiful little gem is a very common summer visitor, 
arriving bore by the middle of May. The nest is built 
about the 10th of June. About tlie middle of September 
they depart iu parties of four to six for their southern 
home, from which they seem while here hardly more than 
wanderers, so commonly do we associate gaudy plumage 
with a tropical clime. 
family alcedinidzb. 
Cerule ulwon. Belted kingfisher. In plenty, arriving by 
April 1st. The eggs are laid about the 1st of May, De¬ 
mining mainly for the south about the middle of September, 
k V,»> remain still later, and sometimes all winter. 
“ ' FAMILY cccolid^e. 
Corrvsus eriiiii'/iP thaimu!t - Black-billed cuckoo. Very 
males preceding the females 
about ten days. The nest is built by May 30th, aud the 
cuckoo is ready to start south by the middle of September. 
Coccyzus americanus. Yellow-billed-cuckoo. Very rare; 
arrives from the south by May 1st, the males preceding the 
females as with the black-billed. The young appear about 
the 10th of June, and all go southward by the middle of 
September. 
' Maximum Length of the Black Snake.— In the last 
number of Forest and Sthkam Dr. Abbott inquires as to 
the maximum length of the black snake {Bascanion con¬ 
strictor). In Southern Illinois, where a few years ago 
many species of snake were aliundant, this species was one 
of the most numerous; specimens of six feet in length 
were not uncommon, but I cannot affirm that this length 
was much exceeded. I have, however, information from 
an entirely trustworthy friend of the capture of a black 
snake which measured ten feet or thereabouts in length, it 
having been picked up by the iuformaut, who mistook it 
for a charred fence rail. It is probable, however, that the 
specimen referred to was an Alleghany black snake (Coluber 
obsoldus Bay; Scotophis alleghaniensis Baird and Girard*), 
which measured eleven feet in length j. My father killed 
one in Southern Illinois which measured nine feet in 
length, and I have killed several which were upwards of 
eight feet long, one of them having a half grown hare 
{Lepus s/ylvestris) in his stomach. R. Ridgway. 
—In respect to the greatest length of the black snake, I 
would state that I have a specimen that measures a little 
over seven feet; and that I saw one killed that measured 
eight feeL These are tile longest that I have ever seen, 
although 1 have heard of much longer ones being killed.— 
W. F. H. Getty (Yonkers, N. Y.) 
—In the summer of 1867 I found in woodcock coverts a 
black snake coiled in a circle and showing fight. Having 
shot the snake I picked him up, but although I stand six 
feet iu my stockings, I could not hold him high enough by 
his tail for his head to clear the ground. I estimated the 
snake’s length at seven feet and nine inches, and it was 
larger round than my wrist, I have since then killed a 
few over six feet in length.—-E. H. A. (Litchfield Co., 
Conn.) 
—A black snake was killed by Prof. Horsford upon Mt. 
Tom near this city a few years ago which measured a trifle 
over eight feet in length. Seven red squirrels were taken 
from its stomach. Tlie skin has been preserved.— Feed 
H. Keyes (Springfield, Mass.) 
*See “Check List of North American Bataaohia and Reptilia by 
Edward Cope,” 
tin the text toe length Is stated as "eleven inches— the largest I ever 
saw”—an evident error. [8oc Smithsonian Keport, 1874, p. 433.] 
Archeological Congress —It is proposed to bold an 
International Convention of Archaeologists at Philadelphia 
during the Exposition, for the purpose of promoting ac¬ 
quaintance aud increasing the means of information in 
American archteology and ethnology. The first meeting 
will be held in the Ohio building on September 4lh, at the 
close of the American Association for tlie Advancement of 
Science in Buffalo. Addresses from prominent anthropo¬ 
logists will he delivered, and it is hoped that a great im¬ 
petus to investigations in this country will he gained. The 
call is signed by Dr. C. C. Abbott, Prof! Baird, F. W. 
Putnarn, 8. S. Haldman,.Charles Rau, J. W. Dawson, C. 
C. Jones, S. D. Peet, Wni. C. Sloan, and others. 
—Dr, Cones w rites to the “American Naturalist” that 
Dr. Rufus Raymond, of Brookeville, Ind., has found a 
bank swallow building her nest under a building which 
was built over tlie water, entering to her nest through a 
two-inch auger hole. This is the first recorded instance 
of its aban cloning its fossorial habit, although its brother, 
the rough-winged swallow, frequently does so. 
- 
SPRING BIRDS OF VERMONT. 
Ff. intisnuunrr, Addis on Co., Yt., May 31st. 
Editor Forbst and Stbbam:— 
I send yon the appended notes of my observations or the coming of 
the birds. Being no ornithologist, 1 have seen several which I could not 
name, and have set down none but those whose identity I was sure of:— 
March 141,h.—Cold north wind; saw 30or40crowa flying northward; in 
ordinary winters we have no crows here, but the past ono having been 
nnusnally mild, individuals have been seen from time to time. l?th— 
Snowine a great deal; have seen more snow bantings this afternoon 
than in all winter. S7lli—Saw a song sparrow. 38th-Snw five wild 
gec-se going north. 30th—Heard a bine-bird, and saw a robin. My 
brother saw 80 or 90 wUd geese flying southward. 
April 1st.—Saw another song Bparrow nbont a bash heap, tuning his 
pipes In spite of northerly wind and snowy weather. 4th—A good many 
robins about, although it ie snowing fast; a flock of black birds. 5th— 
Saw a pbcebe-bird; Bong sparrows plenty. Bth—Heard a meadow lark, 
and n downy woodpecker with etrnngo voice almost exactly like tbe chuck¬ 
ling of a red squirrel; a sparrow hnwk Been, 19th—Saw many swallows 
about Little Otter Creek; J. Birket, who was [rapping there, said be 
saw the first yesterday. 13th— Heard frogs and saw a snipe, t-lth— 
Saw mauy song-birds, and at evening heard one hyla. Iflth—Flashed a 
woodcock in the orchard. 18tb-Saw a golden-winged woodpecker; 
heard rafted grouse drumming. 93d—Snow-birds and tree sparrows are 
becoming less plenty, 93d—Saw a grouse drumming, and watched him 
till some noise alarmed him, when he walked away; it was after 4 P. M., 
and soon no more dramming was heard in tbe woods. No trailing ar¬ 
butus is in blossom yet, but liver-leaf is in bloom 
May 8th.—First bobolink heard, bth—Baltimore oriole and Ban ram’s 
tattler; yellow-crowned warblers have been plenty for a week. 14th— 
Heard a wood or hermit thrush; liver-leaf is almost out of bloom; 
violets, Dutchmen’s breeches and addor-tongueB are in bloom. 90th— 
Saw a great-created flycatcher. *iet—Dandslious beginning to blossom. 
Male bobolinks plenty, but saw no females yet. 23d-Saw two pairs of 
scarlet tanagers; heard a ruffed gronse drumming. 95th—Heard n night 
baw k. 2Sih—Saw a hnmming-bird, and beard of one being seen a week 
ago. 31st.—Saw a red-headed woodpecker, the first I have seen for 
three or four years. Twenty-five years ago it was not at all uncommon 
here. The golden-winged, hairy, and downy woodpeckers are not 
nearly so plenty as they used to be, but are still not uncommon. It is 
easier to account for the decrease of these birds than or some others, 
such as the common wren, which was once as plenty here as almost any 
of onr small birds, but is now never seen, and the Bertram’s tattler, 
which not many years ago bred in goodly numbers in onr meadows sod 
pastures, bat is becoming set reel I,; ,,V‘nii nr - Ttle CQttin " 0l ? of the 
forests has greatly shortened - 31 fc Iy of the woodpeckers, bat 
