192 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



fat is soft, all these birds gobble it up like hens, at big 

 ruouthfuls. If the large ones succeed in detaching good- 

 sized pieces of it they at once bear them away and hide 

 them, and return quickly for more. When the pieces are 

 Bmall, if they wish to replenish their storehouses, the loading 

 of their freight iB attended with some dih.culty, for when 

 the bill is pretty well filled, and necessarily well open, the 

 last lumps fall out; time after time, in trying to get more, 

 I have seen a hairy fly oft at last well-ladened with a row of 

 seven or eight lumps "in his bill. The jays seem to fill their 

 throats as well as bills, and then fly away to hide the booty. 

 Of kernels of corn, which we put out for them, they will 

 take eight at a time. None of the other birds ever touch 

 this except the nuthatches, who occasionally carry away a 

 kernel, though I doubt if they eat it. They sometimes 

 carry sway a piece of tallow as large as their own heads, and 

 sometimes start with one so large the slender bill is forced 

 to drop it. The hole the bill makes in the tallow is round 

 and deep, and is just the size of a common darning-needle. 

 The chicadees are the daintiest feeders of all, making a meal 

 of crumbs too insignificant for the others to notice, and 

 stopping after every mouthful or two to look about them 

 for their bulkier fellows. If they detach a larger bit, they 

 bear it away to a neighboring branch and eat it at their 

 leisure. 



The nuthatch after taking a bite will often hop to the 

 edge of the board and peep over. Sometimes, after eating 

 his fill, ho settles himself on his dining-table for a comforts 

 able after-dinner rest, not nap, for he does not close his 

 bright eyes. With his head drawn in, his bill slightly ele- 

 vated, his tail in line with it and his feet tucked closely 

 under him, he looks less like a bird than like a tiny nar- 

 whal stranded on the shores of Lilliput. The female 

 downy, too, rests here at times, and so do the chicadees. 

 The h'airys and jays are always off as soon as they have got 

 what food they can. 



In the spring of 1875 the hairys began housekeeping in a 

 room they had scooped out for themselves in an old apple 

 tree near by, and therein reared a family. During the in- 

 fancy of their brood the old ones came often to the board 

 for food, of which they bore away great rnouihfuls. At last, 

 When the young were nearly full grown, their old man 

 brought, three of them to the adjacent locust tree, on which 

 they sat while in great haste he carried them as much as he 

 could hold in his bill of fat, poking it with violent thrusts 

 far down their throats, and they, while not receiving food, 

 keeping up a most discordant yelping. 



Last fall, when the first snows came, a nuthatch fluttered 

 about the window, evidently disappointed that the table was 

 not already spread. Within ten minutes of the time we 

 nailed on some pieces of fat, two nuthatches, three chica- 

 dees and the female downy visited the board in quick suc- 

 cession. They must have been on the lookout near by, or 

 at least somewhat within sound of the hammer. 



The hairys longer claim eleemosynary aid than any of the 

 others of our pensioners, the jays deserting us first, the 

 downys, nuthatches and chicadees leaving as soon as the 

 supply of insect food becomes abundant. We part with 

 them with no little regret, and gladly welcome their return 

 when "the melancholy days have come," for their daily 

 visits do much to cheer the loneliness of winter. Long may 

 our little Russians hold us as their friends, and claim of us 

 their daily tallow. Awahsoose. 



BIRDS OF THE COTEAU DES PRAIRIES 

 OF EASTERN DAKOTA. 



BY CHABLE8 E. M'cHESNET, M. D., U. S. A. 



(Continued.) 



Suspiza amerioana Black-throated bunting, Is found here from June 

 »th to July 36th in considerable numbers. 



Dolichonyx oryrivorus, Bobolink. Arrives May 19th and remains 

 until July 24th in quite large numbers; breed* here. 



Molothrus pecoris. Cow -bird. la seen from April 17th to October 28th 

 in very large numbers; breeds here. 



Agelausphaniceus. Red-winged blackbird. Arrives April 17th and 

 remains until October 28th. Quite numerous; breeds here. 



JTanlhocephalus icUroccphalus . Yellow-headed blackbird. Arrives 

 April 26th to remain uutil September 28th. la found in large numbers. 

 It will be observed that this bird arrives a little later, and takes its de- 

 parture long before the other blackbirds do; breeds hero. 



Stumctla magna var. neglccta. WeHtern field lark. ThiB is one of the 

 earliest of our spring arrivals, making its appearance about April 13th; 

 it remains until October 14th. Is very numerous; breeds here. 



Icterus ballimore. Baltimore oriole. Arrives about May 19th and dis- 

 appears September 1st. Very rare; it may breed here. 



Quisealut purpurens. Purple grackle. This bird arrives April 17th, 

 and from that time to its departure, November 10th, iB found in very 

 large numbers all over the prairie. 



Corvus arrax. Raven. The only ravenB I have ever seen on the 

 "Coteau des Prairies" were a pair of young ones, procured by me from 

 Indians, Julys, 1870. 



Comw amrricanus. Common crow. The common crow is a very 

 rare visitor with us. Ills occasionally seen late in winter and in the 

 early spring, but does not remain, 



Tyrannus carollnenits. Bee martin. Arrives r May 16th and departs 

 September 9th. Is very numerous during this time; breeds here. 



Tyrannus vertical!*. Arkansas fly-catcher. Is found from May 2ad 

 to Beptember flth in considerable numbers, but is not near as numerous 

 as T. earolinensis, with whom It appears to bo constantly associated; 

 breeds btre. 



Chordeilci virginianus Night hawk. Appears May 26th; breeds 

 here- la found in large numbers. LeavesSeptoinber 17th. 



Mtlanerpu eryUiroQ'ihalus. Red-headed woodpecker. Appears June 

 6th. Doee not, however, remain in this viciuity more than a few days; 

 is rare, 



Colapbts auraiua Golden winged woodpecker, l^irst appears June 

 231. Is not very numerous. Remains nntil October lOib. lam not 

 sure wnethcr this bird breeds bpre. 



Hulio virginianus. Graal horned "owl . The only owl I have seen on 

 tho "Coteau des Prairies" was one presented to me Beptember 30, 

 1876, which had been killed that day a short distance from Fort Biase- 

 ton. It was apparently a full-grown specimen. 



Circus eyaneus var. tiudsomus. Marsh-hawk. Arrives May 2d and re- 

 mains until October 11th. Is seen in small numbers) breeds here. 



Actipiter /uicus. Sbarp.st4h.ned hawk. Is found in small numbers 

 from May let to October Sltth; brcods herej 



Filco communis. Duck-hawk. Arrives April Bth and departs October 

 30tli. I- quite numerous during ibis time. 



Fulcesparvcius. Spatrowbawk. Is found from April 16th to October 

 ftkl. Is al. no ti.ue Very abuudaut; breeds here. 



Bute* stoatnsoni. Swainson's buaisrd Arrives May 10th and re- 

 mains until Ocl-iber 80th. Is seen in considerable numbers; breeds 

 here. 



Catliaries aura. Turkey-buziard. is found hor« from May 24th to 

 October iloth in large numbers; breeds here. 

 [Te H aMtinued], 



FAUNA OF MICHIGAN. 



BY AECHEB. 



(Continued). 



ORDER BODENTIA. 



'lUKin.v..— bos famiia* wrennjiB. 



Sciurus mlpinus. Good. Var. Fox squirrel. 



5. (Kdotita'amu. Har. Fox squirrel. 



S. niger. Linn. Black squirrel. 



S. migratorus. Aud. and Bach. Gray aqulrrol , also var. Carolinensis. 

 Gmel. 



S. hudsonius. Pallas. Red Bquirrel. 



Sciurnpterus volucella. Pallas. Flying squirrel; misscalled PUromys 

 volucella; there being none of the genus Plersomys in the V. 9. 



Tamias strialus. Linn. Ohipmouk; hackee. 



Spernwpkilus triiecem lineatus. Aud. and Bach. Striped prairie squir- 

 rel; sometimes miscalled gopher. 



Spermophilus franhlini. F. Cuv. Gopher. 



Geomys bursarius. Hioh. True gopher. Of the last three varieties the 

 first was, as are the last two, confined to tho lower tier of counties, but 

 now may be found as far North as SaginawBay.it following closely 

 the axe of the pioneer. 



Arctomysmtmax. Gmel. Wbodcbuck; ground hog. 



Castor canadensis. Euhl. Beaver. A few still remain in tho Lower 

 Peninsula in Alcona County. 



Jaaulus hudsonius. Bd. Jumping mouse. 



SUB FAMILY MCRIILE. 



Mus ratios. Linn. Black rat. 



Mus decumanus. Pall. Norway rat. 

 Mas musculus. Linn. Common mouse. 

 Hesperomys leucopus. Le Conte. Deer mouse. 

 Hcxperomys michiganensis. Way. Prairie mouse 

 Rilhrodon Humilus. Baird. Harvest mouse. 



Arvicola reparia. Ord. Meadow mouse. 

 Filter zibelhicus. Onv Musquash, Muskrat. 



Erethiton dorsatus. F. Cuv. Porcupine; hedgehog. 

 ORDER KUNNINANTIA. 



Ake Americanus. Jard. Cervusalces. Linn. A tees malchis. Jard. Moose 

 The moose is seldom seen within the limits of the State. A bull moose 

 was killed near Alpena in '72. and a cow moose was killed by Robert. 

 Graham on the Galbrait's Line in Sauitee County, November 23, 1873. 



Rangifer caribou. Aud. aud Bach. Woodland caribou; American 

 reindeer. la occasionally taken by the hunters in the Upper Peninsula. 



Cervus canadensis. Erxl. Wapiti or American elk. Is Btill found 

 upon tho peninsula enclosed by the waters of Lake Huron and Saginaw 

 Bay, in Iluron and Sanilac Counties. 



Cervus virginianus. Virginia or red deer. 



Lepus Americanus. Erxl. Northern hare. 

 tepus tylmticus. Bach. Gray hare; gray rabbit. 

 [To be Continued}. 



Dr. Elliott Cotjes, U. S. A. — We congratulate this em- 

 inent and persevering scholar upon his recent election as a 

 member of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the 

 highest honors to which American scientists aspire in this 

 country. 



Arrivals and Deaths at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden for 

 Week Ending April 24xh. — One Aconchy (Dasyprocta acouchy), Erxl., 

 born in garden; two short-eared owls (Brachyotu* palustris), presented; 

 two young horned owls (Bubo virginianus), Bonap., presented; one 

 Angora goat (Capra hirous). born In garden. 



Deaths. — Four bald eaglea; one golden pheasant; one diamond finch; 

 one guan; one wild goose; two horned owls; one prehensile porcupine 

 akthob E. Brown, GenT.Supt. 



ffaadlmd, tgarm m& §nrden. 



CHANGING THE NATURAL FORM OF 

 PLANTS. 



VARIETY in gardening does not consist wholly, as some 

 appear to suppose, in the number of kinds or species 

 of plants obtained and cultivated. Diversity of form ob- 

 tained by training them will frequently produce almost, if 

 not quite, as beautiful an effect as great variety, and herein 

 lies much of what is termed skillful and successful garden- 

 ing. Suppose, for instance, one has two varieties of the 

 dwarf double flowering almonds, the white and pink. A 

 clump of each are pretty ornaments to start with. Then a 

 change can be made by putting the pink sort in the centre 

 of the group, and a row of white outside, and in sueh a posi- 

 tion that one can look down upon the clump instead of a 

 side view. Then this order may be reversed, or a long rib- 

 bon of pink and white may be made by planting a row of 

 each aide by side. A far more elegant shrub is produced by 

 budding these plants upon peach or plum stocks, and four 

 or five feet from the ground. A stock may be budd ed in 

 August or September, with one variety only, or a few buds 

 of white almond put on the centre shoots, and a row of 

 pink on the outside. The white-flowered sort has quite stiff, 

 upright-growing branches, while those of the pink are long 

 and slender, and when budded in this manner will bond 

 over most gracefully when loaded with flowers. Of course it 

 is presumed that every one who has a garden knows how to 

 bud and graft trees: if not, they should learn without un- 

 necessary delay. Perhaps these few hints given will net the 

 reader thinking how other departures from standard types 

 can be secured; if so, everything depends upon the persistency 

 of the effort in that direction. Many persons, however, arc- 

 prone to think that it willnot answer to depart from the natu- 

 ral "bent" of the plant; therefore, their climbing plants are 

 always treated as climbers — never as bedding, or low trailers. 

 A prairie rose looks well upon a trellis or traiuoJ to , 

 bat 1b also beautiful wh«u pegged down to the ground to 

 form a rosy cushion a few inches high. The lovely clematis 

 jackmanii is unsurpassed when trained in this manner, as 

 all who have visited Mr. HuunewelVs, at Wellesley, near 

 Boston, when the rows of 



drons were in bloom , can testify. Honeysuckles trained over 

 an old rock or heap of stone look as well, if not better, than 

 when covering some costly trellis. Wistarias may be trained 

 as low or high shrubs, although they are classed among the 

 climbers. Because a plant grows naturally tall and slender, 

 it does not follow that its form cannot be modified to suit 

 our taste in the matter. By lopping off a branch here, and 

 bending another there, natural forms may be changed with- 

 out seriously interfering with natural laws, and by a little 

 forethought and consideration as to tho effect we wish to' 

 produce, there is little danger of falling far short of the ob- 

 ject sought. There are usually more or less waste materials 

 about a place which can be used to advantage in this way. 

 Any seedling peaches, plums, cherries or apples can be 

 utilized, and in fact stone heaps, rubbish piles, old stumps, 

 or even half-dead trees may be made useful as well as 

 ornamental. 



■»♦♦- 



Hints about Flowebs. — House plants ought to be stimu- 

 lated gently once or twice a week. Bain water, so refresh-" 

 ing to summer flowers, always contains ammonia, which also 

 abonnds in all liquid manures. If you take an ounce of 

 pulverized carbonate of ammonia, dissolved in one gallon of 

 water, it will make spring water even more stimulating to 

 your plants than rain water. Ii you water your plants once 

 in two weeks with guano water (one tablespoonful to a pail 

 of water), they will grow more thrifty. Chicken manure 

 dissolved in water is excellent. Always keep the soil in 

 your flower pots loose. A common hair-pin used daily will 

 stir the earth sufficiently.— Boston Journal of Chemistry. 



Ivy on Walls.— There is a popular belief that ivy growing 

 on a building renders it damp and unhealthy, which is quite 

 unreasonable; in fact, if a wall, particularly a north wall, be 

 damp, the best treatment is to plant English ivies al 

 for not only does the dense foliage of the plant keep out 

 rain, but its serial roots absorb the moisture already in the 

 wall. 



Gnowrs-G Tuberoses. — To cultivate the tuberose, the most 

 beautiful of all plants, says an experienced horticulturist, 

 put the bulbs in six-inch pots, three in each, and use a mix- 

 ture of equal parts turfy loam, peat and leaf mould, and 

 place them in a pit. Give very little water at first; and as 

 they commence to grow freely increase it, and keep near the 

 glass. When they begin to push up their flower spikes, 

 they will, of necessity, require to be placed where they will 

 have sufficient space for the proper development of the tall 

 spikes. These will come in bloom from August to October, 

 when they will require a temperature ranging from Bixty to 

 eighty degrees, the latter being preferable.— Scientific Ameri- 



THE GRASSHOPPERS AND WILD 

 FOWL. 



Pomeroy, Iowa, April 18, 1S?7 

 Editor Forest and Stream. 



Spring Is now fairly opened, and I send yon a few notes on the. pros-- 

 pect in these parts. To begin with, the prospect for grasshoppers was 

 never better; every piece of newly broken land is literally seeded to 

 them, and thoroughly too; the esrgs seem healthy us need be, and two' 

 days since I noticed Ihe young hoppers for the ilr.-t, as lively as fllea in 

 August, and jnst as thick. If they are not the most welcome guests tc- 

 the farmers, they will be hailed as manna by all kinds of wild and tame 

 fowl— grouse and turkeys in particular. The outlook for grouse this 

 season Is something to be proud of. There was never such a breeding 

 stock as at present, for the fields are alive with them, and on sunnv 

 mornings the air is resonant with the sound of their loveinaking-, 

 this, with the music of other birds, makes a perfect spriog chores, some- 

 thing wonderful when one listens to it for the first. I well remember 

 some twelve years a»o, when, fresh from thecitios of the Easiern .States, 

 I came on a visit to Iowa, and heard for the first time grouse booming 

 on the pra irie, and thought that such Bounds could only emanate from 

 the throat of some animal, wild and fierce, and was inclined to be timid 

 abont venturing on the prairie alone, but the information that the 

 dreaded sounds were nothing more tban arouse "crowing." made my 

 courage itself again. Geese have oeeu here since January 30th, aud 

 ducks came about the same time. On the 11th inst. I saw and bagged 

 the first English snipe, and now they are quite plen'.y aud afford rare 

 sport: the )6tb in*t. Bartrarn's sandpiper was first seen, Ins familiar 

 whistle sounding a cheery ''how-do you do." Yellow-legs and tattlers, 

 kllldcers, etc , have been here abont two weeks, and ire plenty enough 

 to give the tyro good shooting; they are in fair flesh, and mates snltanie 

 materieUe for a pot pie, that most delicious of spnrtstniu's disnes; and 

 now, while! turn from the quill to the "Parker" fowling-piece, for a 

 short time , adieu. AbeDac - 



Cured.— An old physician retired from active practice 

 having had placed In bis hands Ly an East Indian missionary the for- 

 mula of a simple vegetable remedy for the speedy and permanent cure 

 of Consumption, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Asthma, and all Tbroat and 

 Lung affections, also a positive and radical cure for Nervous Debility 

 aud all nervous complaints, after having thoroughly tested Its won- 

 derful curative powers in thousands of cases, feels it his duty to make it 

 known tohisBUffcring fellows. Actuated by this motive, and aconsclen- 

 tloua deBire to relieve human suffering, he will send, free of charge, to 

 all who desire it, this recipe, with full directions for preparing inn suc- 

 cessfully using. Sent by return mail by addressing with stamp, nam- 

 ing this paper, Dr. J. C. Stonk. 33 North Fifth Street, Philadelphia, 

 Pa.— Adv. 



Cbeedmoob. — Owing to the wretched weather on Saturday 

 the matchforthe "Marksman's" or "Poppenhusen" badge wub 

 not shot, The members of the Seventh Regiment Rifle Club, 

 however, undeterred by the rain, contested for the Morris 

 medal, which was won for the second time by Mr. G. I. 

 Merchant of Company L 



Amateur Rifle Club.— Members will take notice that the 

 competitions for places on the Club Teams, fixed lor May 

 1st and June 5th, will take place on May 2d and June 6th, 

 instead of on the dates first named . 



Glen Dbake.— The spring meeting of the American Rifle 

 Association commences to-day, in their range at Glen Drake. 

 The programme comprises the following matches: 



All-Comers.— Conditions.— Distance, 200 yards; position, 

 off-hand; rifle, any within tho rules. Entrance Tec, SI. 

 Two sighting shots allowed. Prize, 

 M glass. 

 Conditions.— Distance. 200 yards; position, i>8- 

 hand; rill-, military, 50-ealibre, State pattern, I ; 

 ■'.•/ sighting shots allowed. Entries not 

 Entrance fee, SI, Prize, Holden rifjo, 



